Izel takes a step forward. “You dare demand of your Alpha?”
“I dare demand of my husband,” I answer, “because he swore to protect and obey our marriage vows in front of everyone who witnessed our wedding. And yes, I dare demand justice from my Alpha because when he ascended the pack throne, he also swore an oath to protect truth above pride.”
That lands heavily.
The crowd murmurs again, growing restless. Tamsin, standing with the guards, hides a grin behind her hand.
Kade lets out an exasperated sigh. “Freya, you bring shame on us with this spectacle.”
“No,” I say. “I bring truth. She forged my name, poisoned my food, and called herself Luna. You’ve known it. It is you who has humiliated our pack by betraying your lawful marriage.”
Kade’s eyes flash. “Enough!” He turns to Izel. “Show me this decree she speaks of.”
Izel hesitates, her fingers twitching.
Kade’s tone hardens. “Show me.”
Slowly, she picks up the scroll from where I placed it on the table and unfurls it before walking back to Kade.
His face darkens as he examines it. He looks between us. “Who wrote this?”
“I don’t know,” Izel says too quickly. “It was delivered to me weeks ago. I assumed Freya—”
“Lies,” I snap.
“Enough,” Kade says again. “I will hear no more bickering.”
“You must choose,” I tell him.
His eyes flick to mine. For a moment, I see something old there—guilt, maybe, or grief. Then it’s gone. “I will not choose between you.”
“Then you choose her by default,” I say.
He looks away. “Neither of you will use the Luna title until the Conclave decides it.”
Izel pales, her cheeks flushing red with shame. “You can’t—”
“I can,” Kade says coldly. “And I do. Until then, I want to hear no more of this nonsense.”
Izel’s voice wavers. “Kade—”
“Be quiet,” he snaps. “You’ve caused enough disorder.”
Izel’s composure cracks, and it’s a first. Her lips tremble, eyes glassy with humiliation. Around us, whispers grow:Forgery. Deceit. Not the true Luna. And the Alpha let it happen.
I bow my head slightly. “As you command, Alpha.” My voice is gentle. “But remember—truth doesn’t wait for Conclaves. It stands on its own.”
Then I turn and walk down the dais. No one blocks my path.
When I pass Tamsin, she murmurs, “That was a clean kill, Luna.”
I almost smile.
BLEEDING FOR THE CROWN
Izel
Izel stalks through the eastern corridor, fury rolling off her in waves strong enough to curdle the air. The amulet resting against her heart burns a fiery red. Her claws threaten to pierce her gloves. Every servant she passes flattens themselves to the walls, eyes down, ears pinned. No one dares breathe too loudly.
