Then, outside the Eastern Palace of Moonhold Citadel, I ran into Fenris Vargr.
He was helping Ravenna down from an obsidian carriage.
His gaze was indulgent, almost tender. "I've delivered you safely. Satisfied now?"
Ravenna laughed, sweet as spun sugar. "No one treats me better than you, brother."
"But didn't you have plans with Miss Blackthorn today? It's all my fault for being so timid and insisting you escort me into the Citadel. She won't be upset with me, will she?"
Fenris waved it off. "Don't worry about that. Your business comes first."
I remembered this day from my past life. Fenris and I had made plans to run the silver lakeshore together in wolf form.
He'd told me something urgent had come up with the Crimson Fang.
I'd waited by the lake all day, watching the water until the moon rose above the treeline.
So his urgent warpack business had been escorting Ravenna to the Citadel.
A bitter smile tugged at my lips.
Fenris seemed to sense something and turned toward where I stood. His nostrils flared once, catching my scent on the still air before his eyes found me.
His eyes widened. "Seraphina?"
I didn't answer.
His expression froze.
He walked toward me.
"What are you doing here? Did you receive the invitation I sent?"
When I said nothing, he kept talking, filling the silence himself.
He'd already decided what this was.
"You must have received it. And then found out where I'd be, so you dressed up and came here on purpose."
"I reserved a flask of the new Drunken Lotus mead from The Pinecrest Den. I was going to share it with you by the lake."
"Since you're already here, that saves me a trip to the Blackthorn estate."
Drunken Lotus...
My mind drifted for a moment.
I remembered being a little pup, mistaking Drunken Lotus for honeyed tea and gulping it down.
I'd slept for three days straight. The memory pulled a faint smile from me despite everything.
Fenris's expression softened. He reached for my hand. "I knew it. I knew you'd like that."
"Seraphina, you've given me the cold shoulder long enough. Whatever anger you had, surely it's passed by now."
"Let's go back to the way things were. In a few days, I'll petition the Moon Elders to read the stars for an auspicious night, and I'll claim you properly at the mating altar."
My smile didn't waver. I listened quietly until he finished.
Then I pulled my hand free. "I'm a candidate in the Luna Selection. You are an outside Alpha Commander. This kind of contact is improper."
Fenris went still.
He stared at me in disbelief. "What did you just say?"
