Fierce satisfaction surges through me at the look on Celeste’s face. She’s gone pale, opening and closing her mouth like a fish.
Theodore’s hands clench into fists. “You had better watch your tongue—”
“Or what?” Kieran’s eyebrow arches.
Theodore takes another step back, then stops. His expression shifts, calculation replacing anger. When he speaks again, there’s a smugness to his tone that makes my stomach drop.
“You may have marked your mate,” he says slowly, “but she is still a suspect. And we do not accept her as your mate.”
My blood runs cold.
“You are to pick a mate that will prove your loyalty to the Kingdom,” Theodore continues, “and build alliances with other packs. Your mate does not fit the criteria.”
“Nobody can tell me who my mate can be.” Kieran’s soft voice carries through the entire room. “I don’t know how things work in your world, but in mine, mates are chosen by instinct, not for political connections.”
The other nobles are murmuring now, nodding. One of them steps forward. Lord Garrett, I think his name is.
“Theodore is right,” Garrett says. “The alliance must be considered. Daciana is not suitable. He must take a different mate.”
My head starts to spin.
Theodore’s smile widens. “We are willing to forgive Daciana’s transgression if Alpha Kieran takes Celeste as his primary mate and demotes Daciana to a pleasure slave. Then, we can put this unpleasantness behind us.”
The words don’t make sense at first. They can’t. A pleasure slave? That practice was outlawed decades ago, banished to the dark corners of history where it belongs.
I sense Kieran’s rage building through our connection. It’s like standing next to a volcano about to erupt, all that fury contained beneath a surface of perfect, terrifying calm.
I look at Astra. She has half risen from her seat, face twisted with fury. Lucian has straightened, his lounging posture completely abandoned.
“I will not allow such an archaic practice in my kingdom,” Lucian says, cutting through the murmurs like a blade.
Theodore’s smile doesn’t waver. “Unfortunately, Your Majesty, this is the only solution. And the entire Umbra Council stands behind it.”
My knees feel weak. This can’t be happening.
“Alpha Kieran can think about it until the next meeting,” Theodore says, examining his nails as if this is all terribly boring. “But if he doesn’t agree, the Umbra Council will consider it an act of bad faith. We will demand Daciana’s execution.”
I feel like I’ve been kicked in the gut.
“And if you object to that,” Theodore continues pleasantly, staring at Kieran now, “your entire pack will be considered fugitives of the Wolf Kingdom.”
Magic gathers around Kieran. It’s massive, suffocating—a power so vast, it makes the air crackle with electricity.
He’s going to kill them. He’s going to slaughter everyone in this room.
And part of me wants him to.
But I grab his wrist and whisper, “Kieran, don’t.” His magic burns my palm, but I don’t let go.
He looks down at me, power and fury glowing in his eyes. Death stares out from those depths, cold and absolute.
“Kieran,” I say again, more firmly. “No.”
I glance at Astra. Her expression is grim, but she meets my gaze and gives me an almost imperceptible nod. If worse comes to worst, I know she’ll help me. She’ll protect me. I have faith in my friend.
Slowly, reluctantly, Kieran’s magic begins to recede. But the fury doesn’t leave.
The Council begins to disperse, their murmurs filling the throne room. Theodore looks pleased with himself, his arm around Celeste’s shoulders as they walk away.
