Chapter 1

The Lycan King demanded one she-wolf as tribute.

My mate had two to choose from.

His first love. His Luna.

He chose her.

And he never knew I was carrying his heir.

The Moon Court sat in a frozen clearing on the northern border, ringed by torches and two hundred wolves pretending not to watch. Snow had soaked through my silver ceremonial gown. My knees were bleeding where the King's guards had forced me down onto the ice beside Lila Crane.

Twenty feet away stood Caden Blackwood. Alpha of Silvercrest. My mate of three years.

He looked at Lila first.

He always looked at Lila first.

"Your wolves crossed my border and killed two of mine," the Lycan King said. Kael Draven never raised his voice. He never needed to. "Old law, Blackwood. One she-wolf of your house lives under my roof until the blood debt is paid. Thirty days. Untouched. You have my word." He tilted his head toward us. "Choose which one goes home."

Lila was sobbing. Shaking so hard her pearl earrings clicked.

I wasn't crying.

I was thinking about the healer's vial hidden in my sleeve. Clear water that had turned gold that morning. A pup. I'd planned to tell him tonight, under the full moon, with my hand in his.

Caden crossed the ice.

For one stupid, beautiful second, I thought he was coming to me.

He walked past me.

He knelt in front of Lila, swung his fur-lined cloak around her shoulders, and lifted her to her feet.

"I've got you," he murmured into her hair. "I've got you, Lila."

Something inside my chest went very, very quiet. Even my wolf went silent. She curled up inside me and turned her face to the wall.

Then he finally looked at me.

"Sera." He said my name like an apology he'd already decided not to mean. "She's fragile. She'd break in his keep. You're strong. You'll survive. Thirty days, and I'll bring you home."

You're strong.

Three years as his Luna, and that was his reason.

Not because he loved me less. Because I'd never made it hard enough for him to leave me behind.

"Caden," I whispered. "Please. I need to tell you something—"

Not now.

He didn't even say it out loud. He sent it through the mate-link, then slammed the link shut so hard my skull rang.

"Draven," he called over his shoulder, already walking Lila toward the trees. "If one hair on her head is harmed, I will burn your kingdom to ash."

The King's silver eyes moved slowly from Caden to me.

"Which her?" he asked.

Caden didn't answer.

The Silvercrest wolves shifted and ran. Howls faded into the pines. And then it was just me, on my knees, on enemy ice, in a silver gown I'd bought because Caden once said silver was his favorite.

He'd been talking about the ribbon Lila wore in her hair at sixteen.

I understood that now.

Boots crunched toward me and stopped.

Kael Draven crouched until we were eye to eye. Up close, he was younger than the legends. Thirty-four, maybe. A scar split one dark eyebrow. His eyes were the color of moonlight on a blade.

"You're shaking, Luna," he said. "Are you afraid of me?"

"No."

"Then what?"

I looked at the trees my mate had just disappeared into.

"I'm afraid of how little I feel."

Something flickered across his face. Then he stood and offered me his hand.

Not a grip. Not a grab.

An offer.

I didn't take it. I stood up on my own, bleeding knees and all.

The corner of his mouth moved. "Good."

His keep at Frostmere was all black stone and firelight. An old healer with a white braid was waiting to check me for injuries. The King's rule, apparently. He did not return damaged tribute.

She cleaned my knees. Pressed two fingers to my wrist. Frowned. Pressed her palm flat below my navel and went very still.

Then she stepped into the hall and spoke to the King in the Old Tongue.

I didn't understand the words.

But I understood the silence after them.

Kael walked back in slowly. He looked at my face. Then at my hand, which had moved, without my permission, to cover my stomach.

"Does Blackwood know?"

My throat closed. "No."

He was quiet for a long moment.

"Then tonight," the Lycan King said softly, "your mate didn't just trade away his Luna."

His eyes darkened to storm.

"He traded away his heir."