Blade wasn't sure what it was. It started like a pulling feeling before cracking and almost shattering the night before. The feeling had only continued to get worse. Their bond felt as though it was eroding with every passing breath. Was it the distance or something else? Something had happened to Mamie, but he had no way of contacting her. Their bond changed, but it wasn’t gone. He didn't know what that meant, and it only added to his anxiety.He kissed his son and left him with a servant before going to find Arthur. It was nearing the end of the two weeks and there had been no word about Daphne and her escort making plans to return.He went to the main hall and entered as Arthur let out of a ferocious growl. An Alpha and the young woman at his side stumbled back and away from him. Blade winced at the sight. It seemed they were still trying to entice Arthur to break his bond with Daphne and parading eligible women through the castle to meet him.When were

Nicole reached the queen’s suite quickly, hoping that what she would be dealing with wouldn’t be too bad. She knocked on the door expecting an answer, but none came. A servant she recognized readily opened the door with a grave expression. Mira had been with the August family for years. She knew about Nicole’s relation to Daphne and more than most about the August family. If she looked so grave, Nicole knew it was worse than she could have expected. “Mira?”Mira let her inside and closed the door behind her. Daphne’s scent had changed, leaning a little closer to the scent of a true vampire than before. Given the timing of the change, she was suspicious. They knew of plenty of half-human vampires who had never had the thirst for blood. There were also some who, for one reason or another, had taken on the full change. Those few had a bit of an advantage over born vampires in that they tended not to be sensitive to su

Valon watched them carefully waiting for Arthur to say something more. It was obvious that the man was struggling to accept what he was saying, but he was also curious about what sort of werewolf was attached to their queen. From what Kayley told him and what he remembered of Rose, she was sweet and even-tempered and much like Rose in that regard. They never met the human Rose had eloped with, but everyone had a feeling that Lily knew her daughter had never planned to return if things had been different.Was Arthur anything like that human or like his father, Dean?Arthur's face twisted in a feral snarl before he howled, “I don't care about any of that! I just want Daphne back!”Valon smiled, “I was curious after seeing you two in the forest. But you love her. It's good."Of course, Arthur loved Daphne. She was his mate. They were destined to be together. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her. He regretted agreeing to let Daphne go to

They left the corridor and headed to Nicole’s office. Kayley and Valon stood at attention near the door as Nicole grabbed a handful of throwing knives.  She turned to the remains of the target. She would need a new one. Perhaps she should get a portrait of the duchess and John commissioned for the purpose.“I want to know who is training John’s militia and what he and the duchess have worked out,” Nicole threw a dagger and it landed just left of the shredded center of the target “I want to know who is on his side and what they offer him. Then, we start dismantling the entire operation. I plan to murder him myself.”“And the duchess?”“Either of you is welcome to sever her head from her shoulders,” Nicole threw another knife. “We have a bit of time before she will be able to make a formal appearance, but not much. Get going and be discreet.”“As always, general.”

Arthur and Blade led the group of alphas through the forest. Many of them weren't happy about it, but Arthur didn't care. Murmurs about going to their deaths rippled through the ranks behind him, but they were alphas under his command and as long as they wanted him on the throne, they had to obey him.He’d be happy to let them live out the rest of their days squabbling with each other as soon as he had Daphne back. It was taking everything in him to restrain the deep well of fury and madness that was boiling inside him. He was doing only slightly better than Blade who was a nervous, short-tempered wreck when he wasn't with his son.They reached the edge of the werewolf lands and look up at the canyon’s walls. The mists hadn’t appeared again and Arthur was starting to suspect that the mists had always been an illusion of some sort. What other powers did vampires have? Could Daphne do any of that? He looked up to the clear blue sky and sighed. It was cl