Mated to the Alpha Emperor

ra'

ht, everythi

arden. The moon hung low and heavy, painting the stone walls in silver. Tomorrow was my coming-of-age ceremony.

ding

the kitchens today, polished every candelabra in the east wing, and mended several of Isolde's gowns - all without complaint. Because none of

d so. And love, I believe

n gate wa

ide when he wanted privacy. I pushed i

s. The air smelled sweet - too sweet - like crush

ter first. Lo

I saw

f the figure pressed against him. But I could see the golden hair spilling ov

ld see th

ecret, the one he'd promised would be mine on our engagement

teps

orking. The world

murmured, adjusting the clasp at the back of Isolde's neck. His voice

led. "Of course it does. Rubies w

Something between

both

lders as if her skin had burned him. He took a step back, fumb

. She simply looked at me with those

" she said. "

ught the moonlight, and each flash fe

Gareth

ce came out cracke

her arranged it all quite carefully. Did you really think a prince of the Nightfire bloodline would bind hi

a world where blood determined everything - rank, power, worth - I was nothing. A foundling

ough to believe I coul

s voice was strained. He stepped

ack. "Don'

could feel my bones grinding together. "This doesn't have to change anythi

stared at him.

ched. He did

h a strength I didn't know I had. His fingers left brui

ard," I said.

ongue, low-blood sister. You should be

ra

irway to the room I'd slept in since I was a child. It was barely larg

hought

tween them, draped over the back of the chair, hung a gown I had never

my size. It

entered. Her expression was as

moothed a nonexistent wrinkle on

. "You knew about Gareth a

the embroidery, rubbing the gold thread between h

of House Valois bonded to a prince of the Nightfire bloodline - that is

water. "Then why keep m

"A placeholder, nothing more than a castaway. Someone to kee

I won't stand there t

cross my cheek with enough force to send me to the

bed the collar of my dress and hauled me toward the door. "We fed you. Cloth

hit the opposite wall hard enoug

. "Don't come back to this house. You ar

r slamm

y wrist ached. The hallway was dark and empty, and

dry. Long enough for the pain to harden into something else - so

n sheer instinct. The cobblestones were slick wi

la

a. Her face was flushed, her eyes wide with worry. She gr

from the east wing - Moon Goddes

reth. Isolde. The necklace. The Baron's hand. The Baron

shock to fury. Her grip

e breathed. "Every

I thought I had - it was all a

. "Listen to me, Ela. Tomorrow, they expect you to stand at that ceremony

I have nothing. No na

e empire will be there. Lords, knights, Alphas from every territory." Her dark eyes gleamed. "You don't

sane. We'd never g

e steady. Mine were still shaking. "You can stay here and let them d

I looked back at the castle - dark wind

ooked at

t's

n, back to my place to get ready. Tonight, we