The moon was high above the palace when the summons came.
Lucas and I had just sent Auren to rest under the watch of three trusted guards no one from the inner court, only wolves whose bloodline we had tested ourselves, ones who had no connections to the Council or the Circle. And still, I didn't feel safe.
Because trust now felt like a luxury I couldn't afford.
"Another message?" I asked, already knowing the answer when Lucas entered with that grim look etched across his face.
He tossed a scroll onto the table. The wax seal bore the sigil of the High Circle twin serpents devouring their own tails.
"It's worse than a threat," he said.
I unrolled the scroll, eyes scanning the elegant, cruel handwriting.
