My gaze took in the suffocating opulence of the hall. Gold leaf clung to every surface, reflecting the harsh glare of a thousand candles until the room felt like a polished fever dream.

The air was heavy with the cloying scent of lilies and the rhythmic, predatory pulse of the orchestra. Between the shimmering silks and brittle laughter, I saw the court for what it really was: a sea of masks, each one more dangerous than the last.

They were watching me the way I was watching them. With barely disguised contempt and a hunger for the smallest slip-up.

I was prey in the midst of hunters.

Nobles came to greet me and offer their congratulations, a few lingering long enough to stare at my throat and whisper at each other when they thought I wasn't looking. It was rude, but I couldn't do anything about it.

A figure approached me, long after they'd left me alone. Her smile, which looked fake, gave me shivers. Here comes the first test.

"Hello my Lady." Her smile widened. "I'm Lady Solvra of Jearna."

Ah, the daughter of a noble Duke indeed, the Jearnas were known for their snobbery.

I made sure my bow was low. "Nice to meet you my Lady." I managed.

She laughed out loud. "Come on now your grace, I should be the one bowing, after all I'm not the one mated to the prince." Her eyes narrowed on my neck. I felt the urge to cover the bite mark but restrained myself.

"The sound of your voice must be a whole new tone for the prince I'm sure." She was showing more teeth.

If she hoped to get under my skin by indirectly mocking the depth of my voice, she was playing a dangerous game.

"A whole new tone, indeed," she purred, her eyes flicking to the pulse in my throat.

"One wonders if the Prince prefers his... consorts to have such a command over the lower registers. It's almost masculine, wouldn't you say? Or perhaps it's just the strain of trying to hit the right notes."

I didn't flinch. If she noticed the way the heavy silk of my bodice hid the straight lines of my frame, or the way I kept my chin tilted to mask the strength of my jaw, she was keeping it for the kill. She was daring me to speak again and prove her right.

"It's a lung problem." I offered a smile. "Dear me and my daddy have tried absolutely everything to fix it. But the gods have willed it so. Besides, the Prince finds my voice... grounding. Perhaps you should ask him why he prefers it over the shrill tones of the court?"

She nodded, her expression changing to one of pity. "Poor you, having to go your whole life with a voice in-between a woman and man."

"Yes, poor me." Gods, how do I get rid of her?

I cheered in my heart when a servant bowed to me. "Your grace, the king would like a word."

Better the king than this vulture, I turned and smiled at her. "If you'll excuse me." I pivoted, following the servant, as she led me towards where the king was.

The music dulled as we passed into a quieter alcove draped in velvet.

The king stood alone near a tall window, hands clasped behind his back. When he turned, his gaze settled on me-it wasn't sharp or unkind, but thorough.

His eyes traced my face without apology, lingering the way many others had tonight. There was no hunger in it, only appreciation, like one might give a rare object finally seen up close. His eyes moved to my neck, lingering for a bit before offering me a smile.

I bowed to him and awaited his order. "Lift your head." He gestured lightly. When I did, his mouth curved. "Tell me, Raven... do you find our court to your liking?"

I hesitated, then remembered Denis's voice. Silk, not steel. "It's... lively," I said. "And I'm grateful for the welcome I've received."

Another smile, this one sharper. "And my son?" he asked, as if the thought had only just occurred to him. "How do you find Eilís?"

There it was.

"He's been considerate," I replied, choosing each word. "More than I expected."

"Mm." The king turned slightly, looking out the window. "He can be difficult at times, withdrawn. His wolf also complicates things, it makes him seem a little different each time." His eyes narrowed on the last part.

Was he indirectly expecting me to spill a secret?

"I don't find him difficult," I said before I could stop myself.

"Hmm." He nodded, looking back at the window.

Silence stretched between us, I stayed where I was, hands folded, breathing measured.

The king studied, more closely this time, as if weighing not just my words but the way I stood, the steadiness in my voice.

His eyes flicked once more to my face, my hair, the line of my throat. Approval settled there, quiet and unmistakable.

"I'm sure you've noticed Eilis is not in attendant tonight."

I nodded, wondering where this was going.

"I do apologize for him, he has a bit of a hassle to handle in the northern boarder."

"I understand Sire."

He stepped aside then, gesturing toward the hall beyond the alcove. "Enjoy the evening, Raven. Let them admire you. It does us no harm for others to see what stands beside my son."

I felt heat rise again, but I kept my expression calm. "As you wish, sire."

As I turned to leave, his voice stopped me once more.

"And Raven," he added lightly, "should you ever find yourself uncertain... remember that honesty, when offered sparingly, can be its own kind of power."

I inclined my head once more and stepped back into the light, the music swelling around me again. Eyes found me immediately, curious, appraising.

I kept my shoulders straight and my expression composed, even as a thought bothered me. The king never asked about my voice.

EILIS

The bond burned.

Not like fire though, this was a constant, pulsing pressure beneath my skin, it was a low ache that tightened every time I tried to ignore it.

I braced both hands against the cold stone wall of the training chamber and bowed my head. Sweat slid down my spine, my scars pulling as my muscles locked, my teeth clenched hard enough to ache.

Control.

That word had followed me my entire life. From tutors, from my father, from commanders who praised my discipline especially after I turned feral.

My wolf snarled inside me restless and offended.

Mine, it whispered, not with words but instinct. A possessive pull that surged whenever the bond stirred, whenever Raven was frightened, stressed, or too far away.

I hated it, hated the way the bond demanded attention, and demanded a reaction. The way it made me feel exposed, unguarded, one misstep away from losing myself, and I hated the fact that Raven felt none of it. Why should I have to suffer alone?

I grimaced when I remembered the reason I'd blocked Raven from feeling it in the first place.

I shoved off the wall and crossed the chamber in long strides, grabbing a practice blade from the rack. The sound of steel sang as I swung, the motion sharp, precise and brutal. I imagined cutting through the pressure, severing the pull.

It didn't help.

The wolf pushed harder, a flash of teeth and heat and hunger curling behind my eyes. I staggered, breath hitching as my vision flared gold for half a heartbeat.

"No," I growled aloud, voice rough. "Not now."

I forced myself to stand still, my shoulders back and my spine straight, a prince did not falter.

The doors opened, my best friend- Camden didn't bother knocking. He never did when something was wrong.

"Eilís," he said, already crossing the room. "We've got a problem."

I didn't turn to look at him. "If this is about the patrol routes, tell the council to wait."

"It's not," Camden replied, his tone stripped of its usual humor. "It's worse."

That got my attention.

I sheathed the blade and faced him. Camden's expression was tight, jaw set, eyes sharp in a way that meant he'd already run through every scenario and hated all of them.

"Talk."

He voice lowered. "North district, outer boroughs first, then spreading inward. I think it's Arden's people, they're calling it a 'correction.'

I felt the word like a strike.

"How many?" I asked.

"Enough," he answered. "They're not armed openly yet, but they're organizing, blocking roads. And-" He hesitated.

"They're using the mating as leverage."

My chest tightened. "Explain."

"They're saying the kingdom's weakened, that you're compromised, that a bond between a human and a wolf is unstable." Camden met my eyes. "That a ruler who can't control himself can't protect Caravia."

The wolf roared at that, furious, feral, shoving against my restraint.

My hands curled into fists, my anger almost getting a hold of me. "Where?" I asked, pushing it back down. It hadn't even be up to a week.

"Right now? Just noise," Camden replied. "But if it spreads to the inner court-"

"It won't," I cut in.

Camden studied me. "Are you sure about that?"

I straightened slowly, forcing the weight of the crown back onto my shoulders. "Issue a statement, keep it calm and measured, no threats."

Camden blinked. "That's it?"

"For now," I answered. "If they want proof of weakness, I won't give it to them."

"And the bond?"

My jaw tightened. "I will handle it."

Camden didn't look convinced, but he nodded. "I'll keep you updated."

When I was alone again, the chamber felt smaller. Hotter. The walls pressed in, echoing with the quiet thrum under my skin.

My wolf stirred, restless and angry.

They're coming, it warned. They'll try to take what's ours.

As I closed my eyes, "No," I said softly, to the beast, to the bond, to the kingdom trembling just beyond the walls. "They won't."

But for the first time, I wasn't entirely sure who I was convincing.

****

I sighed as the door opened again, I inhaled deep as Denis poked his head in, flashing me a smile. "Can I come in?"

I shrugged. Taking that as an answer he came in and clicked the door shut.

"I just thought you might want to know the king called for Raven."

I stiffened. "He did what?"

"They're conversing as we speak." Denis supplied.

I fisted my knuckles, what if he noticed something? I couldn't exactly go there and demand to see the king. My father would get suspicious. What could they be talking about?

I should have attended the ball.

"I didn't think you'd risk leaving her all alone there." Denis said slowly, "I had thought you'd keep her close considering the bite mark you left on her." His lips twitched.

I threw him a towel. "I didn't want to overshadow his moment, you know as well as I do that people would be hesitant to approach if I was there. As much as I need hi..her to keep to herself I also need hi..her to speak with people to avoid rumours." gods, saying the right pronouns was going to be a bitch.

"How was the claiming?" Denis asked, changing the subject entirely.

"Is this question coming from my friend or pack?"

"Both?" Denis replied, sounding unsure.

"She's alive isn't she? And she has the bite."

"That you're happy about it." He raised his eyebrows.

"Im happy about it." When he just stared at me, I groaned and rubbed my face. "What more do you want me to say? You want me to tell you I regret it because it just added more to the list of things I need to be careful about."

"She is not a thing." Denis said softly.

"Exactly! She's someone who just added to my problems, as if handling the pack wasn't enough now I have a mate to think about."

Denis hesitated a moment before he spoke. "Did....did your wolf take control?"

"No, thank the gods for that." I replied. Even though Denis was among the people who knew about my split personality, I couldn't exactly tell him the wolf had been the one to claim Raven. He'd just go tattle to Camden who'd tattle to Aria-my sister.

"Are you going to tell her?" He said, still hesitant.

"No, I'm not. Not if the situation calls for it."

"Doesn't she have a right to know?"

"No, she doesn't, I didn't choose to mate with hi..her she didn't choose to mate with me, we're both a victim of circumstances."

When he tried to speak again, I cut him off. "This conversation is over Denis please see your self out."

His mouth closed immediately. "As you wish your highness."

I sighed as the door clicked shut behind him.

What had I gotten myself into?

I was navigating the edge of the dance floor, trying to reach a pillar where I could disappear for a moment, when it happened.

A servant, darting through the crowd with a heavy silver tray of crystal flutes, misjudged the turn.

We collided.

It wasn't a hard hit, but my body was a map of raw nerves and bruised muscle.

The impact jolted my spine, and a sharp, white-hot flash of pain shot through my lower back, it was a direct reminder of the Wolf's lack of restraint.

I gasped, my knees buckling for a split second.

"Your Grace! Forgive me!" the boy stammered, his face turning the color of ash as he struggled to steady the rattling tray.

I grabbed his forearm to steady myself, my fingers digging into his sleeve. For a heartbeat, the mask slipped. My jaw tightened, my breath hitching in a way that wasn't feminine or soft. It was the reaction of a man bracing for a fight.

I saw the boy's eyes widen. He was close enough to see the tension in my neck, close enough to hear the rough edge of my gasp.

"I-I didn't mean-"

"It's fine," I hissed, then immediately caught myself. I forced my hand to relax, smoothing the silk of my gown with trembling fingers. I blinked, letting my eyes go wide and watery. "I'm just... a bit lightheaded. The heat, you understand."

The servant nodded frantically, but he looked unsettled. Did he perhaps notice something?

Before the servant could apologize for the third time, a hand clamped on my shoulder.

I jumped in fright and made a very unladylike sound.

"There you are, I've been looking all over for you." Denis smiled at me. I let out a deep sigh, trying to calm my nerves.

"How are you enjoying the party?"

I shrugged. "It's been great so far."

His smile tightened. "Nothing out of the ordinary?"

I returned his smile. "Not that I could think of."

He chuckled, the tense smile vanishing. "Hope you're taking my advice well?"

"As well as I can." I tried chuckling back but it just sounded awkward.

"Wait!"

The sharp, shrill cry cut through the music, causing the dancers nearby to falter. I turned toward the sound, my heart sinking as I saw a younger woman-one of Lady Solvra's companions-marching toward us. Her face was flushed with a mixture of anger and excitement, the kind wolves showed when they smelled blood in the water.

"My bracelet!" she gasped, stopping inches from me. She held up her bare wrist, her chest heaving. "It's gone! My mother's heirloom, the sapphire cuff-it was here only a moment ago!"

Denis sighed, a sound of pure boredom. "Lady Mila, surely you just dropped it. The floor is covered in enough gems to buy a small village. Check your hem."

"I did!" Mila snapped, her eyes snapping to me with a terrifying focus. "I felt it snag when I passed her. When the servant bumped into the Prince's mate."

The circle of nobles widened, a predatory silence falling over the immediate area. I felt the weight of a hundred stares.

"Are you suggesting something, Mila?" Denis asked, his voice losing its playful edge.

"I'm saying I want to see her pockets," Mila said, her voice rising so the surrounding tables could hear. "Or perhaps she's tucked it into that silk bodice. It's no secret her family's estate is... struggling. Perhaps a human bride needs a bit of Caravain gold to feel at home?"

A ripple of hushed whispers broke out. Thief. Human. Commoner. The words drifted through the air like smoke.

I felt the heat rise to my face, not out of shame, but out of a cold, white-hot fury. I looked at Mila-at the smug curve of her lip and the way her friends were already giggling behind their fans. This wasn't about a bracelet. This was an execution.

If I let her search me, the corset would be a problem. If they laid hands on me, they'd feel the binds. They'd feel the lack of softness. They'd find out I wasn't just a thief, but a lie.

"Lady Mila," I said, my voice steady, though my heart was a frantic drum in my chest. I used the lower register of my voice, the one Solvra had mocked, making it sound slow and dangerous. "You've had quite a lot of wine tonight. Perhaps it simply slipped off while you were... gesturing so wildly?"

"How dare you!" she hissed. "Search her! If she has nothing to hide, she won't mind."

She reached out, her fingers clawing toward my shoulder, intent on dragging me toward the center of the hall.

My instinct screamed to catch her wrist and twist, to put her on the floor the way my brothers had done to me. I had to physically lock my muscles to keep from reacting.

"Is there a problem here?"

The predatory circle that had been closing on me scrambled at the presence of the prince.

Mila's hand froze, inches away from my shoulder.

Her bold, wine fueled courage vanished, replaced by a visible tremor as Eilis golden gaze locked on her.

"My prince." She gasped as Eilis stopped at my side.

"I asked a question." He said, his voice dropping an octave. "Why is your hand near my mate lady Mila?"

Mila stammered, her face turning a deep shade of grey. "My... my bracelet, Your Highness. It went missing, and I thought-I felt a snag when she passed-"

"You thought?" Eilís stepped into her space, forcing her to look up at him. "You thought to lay your hands on her in the middle of my father's hall? To accuse her of theft like a common cutpurse?"

"It is a sapphire, Your Highness," a voice called out from the crowd, emboldened by the safety of numbers.

My fist tightened, what reason would I have stolen a sapphire when I had dozens embroidered into my wedding gown?

"A family heirloom," another whispered, the sound carrying easily in the hushed hall. "And the humans are desperate. Who could blame her for wanting something to take back to that crumbling estate?"

The murmurs rippled through the circle like a slow-moving tide. She's a commoner. She doesn't belong here. A wolf would never stoop so low, but a human?

The air in the room seemed to sharpen as the collective suspicion of the court solidified. Mila took a shaky breath, her confidence returning as she felt the backing of the other nobles.

"I am not the only one who thinks so, My Prince," she said, her voice regaining its edge. "The girl has no jewelry of her own. Is it so hard to believe her fingers wandered?"