- 13 hours ago
The Alpha King Chose Wrong HD SM
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Snow.
00:02That's the first thing I remember about the night I died.
00:05I'm the true-born daughter of House Raventest, the lost heiress of the North.
00:10But I was crawling like a beggar to the gates of Hymir.
00:13My skin was rotting.
00:14A normal wolf takes a stab, heals in 20 minutes.
00:18Me?
00:19I'd been bleeding for three years.
00:2117 years on Wolfby will do that to you.
00:23Only, I didn't know it was Wolfby.
00:26Not yet.
00:27Please.
00:28My voice was a wet rash.
00:30I need to see the Queen Consort.
00:32A boot caught me in the rigs.
00:34A silk slipper stopped two inches from my face.
00:37Oh, sweetheart.
00:38Is that you down there?
00:39I lifted my head.
00:41Lillian, my sister.
00:42And on her brow, the Luna Queen's silver crown.
00:45Behind her, a man stepped from the carriage.
00:47Black coat, gold eyes, argent blood, every inch of him.
00:51Adrian Valentine Arjun, the outful of the Silk King.
00:54Honey, what are you doing all the way out here?
00:57Lillian, please.
00:58Marcus, he's killing me.
01:00Her finger brushed my split cheek.
01:03Selena, the cup of wine I gave you on your first moon to boot, I poisoned it.
01:07It's bright night.
01:08The world went still.
01:10Adrian was supposed to choose you.
01:12So I took your place.
01:13I took the throne.
01:14She stood, brushed snow, off her knees.
01:18You deserve to disappear.
01:20I caught her hem.
01:21If the moon gives me one more night, I'll take it all back.
01:24She smiled.
01:25You can try, sweetheart.
01:27A guard, silver saber, straight through my chest.
01:30Silver death.
01:31The snow.
01:31The snow was very white.
01:33Then nothing.
01:34Black.
01:35Then music.
01:36A string quartet.
01:37Roses.
01:38Too much perfume.
01:39I opened my eyes.
01:41I looked down.
01:42Smooth.
01:43Pale.
01:43Sixteen-year-old hands.
01:45The ballroom of Ravenburst Manor.
01:47Three hundred nobles in high-pack colors.
01:49Argent, silver, and black over the days.
01:51I was reborn on the night of my first moon debut.
01:55The night that ruined my life.
01:57And across the marble floor, my seventeen-year-old sister Lillian walked towards me.
02:01Smiling softly.
02:03A small crystal cup gleaming in her hand.
02:05For my favorite sister.
02:07On the most important night of her life.
02:09I looked at the rim.
02:11There.
02:11In the candlelight.
02:12A tiny red scrap.
02:13The mark I never noticed last time.
02:15I took the poisoned cup.
02:17Thank you, Lillian.
02:19Sweetheart.
02:19You just poured your own funeral wine.
02:22This time, I'm going to make every single person in this room kneel.
02:27You first.
02:31The hall blazed with silver candlelight.
02:34Every high-pack daughter in high-milled was watching.
02:37Lillian moved through the crowd like she owned it.
02:39Holding two crystal cups.
02:41Drink up, sweetheart.
02:43The queen consort's watching.
02:44I looked past her shoulder.
02:46On the dane.
02:47The queen concord sat very still.
02:49Black silk.
02:50Silver pins.
02:51Gold eyes.
02:52The most powerful woman in Argent Val.
02:55Last life.
02:55I drank.
02:56This life.
02:57The moment I'd turned toward the tray.
02:59I'd swap the cups.
03:00The poisoned one was back on the tray.
03:03Waiting for the next person.
03:05To you, Lillian.
03:07House Ravenhurst's finest daughter.
03:09We both drank the clean wine.
03:11Lillian set down her cup.
03:12A little pink in the cheeks.
03:14She hadn't noticed a thing.
03:15A tall figure in black cut across the hall.
03:18Unhurried.
03:18Adrian Valentine RJ.
03:20Lillian's whole body locked.
03:22I leaned close.
03:23Just a breath at her ear.
03:24He's right there, Lillian.
03:25And the queen consort is watching you do nothing.
03:28Her chin lifted half an inch.
03:29I reached back to the tray.
03:31Forced the poisoned cup into her hands before she could think.
03:34Offer him a cup of welcome.
03:36It's old custom.
03:37She loves the old customs.
03:39Lillian stepped forward.
03:40Her voice came out soft, careful.
03:42Your highness.
03:44A cup of welcome.
03:45For the moon.
03:46Adrian glanced at the cup.
03:48He took it.
03:48Elegant.
03:49Reluctant.
03:50Tipped it back.
03:51Set the empty glass on a passing tray.
03:53Without a word and walked on.
03:55Lillian was still beaming at his back.
03:57I lowered my eyes before mine could give me away.
04:01Lillian, you know Silvermoon Law.
04:03Dosing the crown is a court banned act.
04:06The smile didn't leave her face.
04:08Not yet.
04:09You handed it to him yourself.
04:10In front of the queen concord.
04:12In front of every witness in this hall.
04:14I let the silence settle.
04:16That wasn't a toast.
04:17That was your funeral wine.
04:19He left through the balcony doors.
04:21Twenty minutes after the toast.
04:22Bride and nights kicking in.
04:24I waited a breath.
04:25Then I followed.
04:26Lost life.
04:27I was the one with Bride and night in my blood.
04:30Marcus pissed me behind the hydrangeas.
04:32That was the start of seventeen years in hell.
04:35Tonight, Lillian.
04:36There is no rogue in the gazelle.
04:38Only the man Lillian wanted.
04:40And Adrian is not looking for Lillian.
04:42I found Adrian by the moon pond.
04:45One hand braced on a colin.
04:46The other hand grabbed at his collar.
04:48Argent gold eyes wide.
04:50Blown.
04:50Burning.
04:52Your highness.
04:53Don't.
04:54Don't come near me.
04:55You're not well.
04:57Adrian pushed off the colin.
04:59His knee gave out.
05:00He collapsed into my arms.
05:02Adrian was burning.
05:04His face landed in the curve of my neck.
05:06Then he stopped.
05:07Adrian breathed in.
05:09His whole body went still against me.
05:11Then the heat surged back.
05:13Come on.
05:14Not here.
05:15I got Adrian's arm over my shoulder.
05:18I got Adrian inside the empty guest house.
05:21I shut the door.
05:23The lock clicked.
05:24My back hit the wall.
05:25Adrian's forearm caged me beside my head.
05:28His pupils were blown.
05:29Then.
05:30Lillian.
05:31There it is.
05:32The word Lillian worked six years to hear Adrian say in the dark.
05:36And he just said it to me.
05:38I slid my hand up the back of Adrian's neck.
05:40Shh.
05:41His forehead dropped to my shoulder.
05:43I leaned in until my lips were at his ear.
05:45It's alright, your highness.
05:46I'm here.
05:48It does not matter whose name Adrian said tonight.
05:51What matters is who leaves by morning.
05:53Wearing Adrian's coat.
05:54With Adrian's scent on my skin.
05:56Tonight, sweetheart.
05:58That is me.
05:59His forehead burned against my shoulder.
06:01Brightonite stays in the blood 12 hours.
06:03Anything that touches it gets dosed.
06:05I turn my face into his neck.
06:08Forgive me, your highness.
06:09I bit down.
06:10Hard.
06:11The blood flooded my mouth.
06:13He's hissed.
06:14Fisted my hair.
06:15Didn't pull me off.
06:16The drug hit me ten seconds later.
06:19His gold eyes focused.
06:20One second.
06:21I know you.
06:22No, you don't.
06:23Not yet.
06:24I caught his wrist.
06:25Pressed his hand to my colivone.
06:27Here.
06:28Bite here.
06:29Where they can see it.
06:30He lowered his head.
06:32Leave the bite marks on me.
06:34An hour later, he collapsed sideways.
06:36The drug had burned through him.
06:37I sat up.
06:38Wiped the blood from lips.
06:40His coat had slipped off the chair.
06:41I picked it up.
06:42Put it on.
06:43At the mirror, I loosened my hair.
06:45Tugged the coat half off one shoulder.
06:48The bite marks bloomed underneath.
06:50I sat on the edge of the bed.
06:52Waited.
06:52The footsteps in the corridor grew louder.
06:55I didn't move.
06:56I spoke to the closed door, quietly.
06:58Marcus isn't in this bed.
07:00The crown alpha is.
07:01Right on time, Lillian.
07:03The door hit the wall.
07:04And the corridor spilled silk boots and royal silver into the room.
07:08Your majesty, in here!
07:09I saw Selina with a man.
07:11She did not even look at me.
07:13She crossed to the curtained bed.
07:15Her face went white.
07:16Adrienne lay there.
07:17Gold eyes closed.
07:20It was her.
07:21She grew up above the velvet fang.
07:24Raised in a brothel.
07:25Crawling into a crown bed before the debut.
07:28I did not argue.
07:29I let the coat slip lower.
07:30Until the algin crest caught the candlelight.
07:33The bite marks bloomed underneath.
07:34One tear ran down my cheek.
07:36Your majesty, I only remember the cup.
07:38Lillian handed it to me.
07:39And then I woke here.
07:40No, it's not true!
07:41The queen consort lifted one hand.
07:43My breath stayed broken on purpose.
07:45Adrienne sat up.
07:46Shirt buttoned.
07:47Hair pushed back.
07:48Gold eyes finally clear of the drug.
07:50Speak carefully, your highness.
07:52The next sentence out of your mouth chooses my life or hers.
07:56Adrienne opened his mouth.
07:57The door slammed open again.
07:59A wounded man kneeled behind Caleb.
08:01I knew that face.
08:03Marcus Drary.
08:04Caleb unfolded a white handkerchief.
08:05Your majesty.
08:07Marcus waited behind the rockweck for Selen.
08:09This was in Marcus's coat.
08:10The high priest bent over the cloth, nostrils flaring.
08:13Red knight.
08:14Everyone who heard it meant Sajid.
08:16It was not my plan.
08:18Lady Lillian paid me.
08:19Lillian's face emptied.
08:21Lady Lillian gave me the bottle.
08:23I lowered my eyes before anyone could leave me.
08:25For one breath, Lillian had no story ready.
08:28Adrienne got off the bed, slow, pale.
08:31He did not look at Lillian or his mother.
08:33Adrienne walked straight to Marcus.
08:34Adrienne pulled the silver knife in his head.
08:36Your highness, wait.
08:37I can give names.
08:38The judgment happened in one breath.
08:41Adrienne did not flinch.
08:43He held a piece of evidence in his hand.
08:45He walked three steps.
08:46A terrible creep dropped at the hem of Lillian's skirt.
08:49Hidden, but unmistakable.
08:50Lillian screamed once.
08:52Then Lillian went silent.
08:53The thorn girl folded over into the hem of her own gown.
08:56Adrienne did not look at Lillian.
08:57Adrienne walked back across the marble.
08:59He pulled off his own coat.
09:01He laid the coat on my shoulders.
09:03I stayed still.
09:04I let Adrienne cover me.
09:05Adrienne smoothed the silver crest flat across my back with his own hand.
09:10Let me smell Selina Ravencrest.
09:12The queen consort stepped closer and inhaled.
09:14Nothing.
09:15No scent.
09:16No rank.
09:16No wolf.
09:17Sixteen years of high-packed blood.
09:19You are empty air.
09:20A maid stepped forward with a black velvet cushion.
09:22A small silver blade waited on it.
09:24You may walk out of this room, or you may end it.
09:27The queen consort gave me death and called it mercy.
09:29Sparehouse Raventill, what comes next?
09:31The blade was placed in my hand.
09:33Cold.
09:34Final.
09:35In the corner, Lillian released the smallest breath of relief.
09:38I did not lift my hands.
09:39If she wanted me dead tonight, she would do it herself.
09:42A black sleeve cut across my sight.
09:45Adrienne stepped between me and the ceremonial pillow
09:47and closed his bare palm around the blade.
09:50Silence held.
09:51Then, blood came.
09:54The queen consort's face went still.
09:56Adrienne did not look at her
09:57and took my fingertips in his clean hand, gently.
10:00By the law of the Algin Court.
10:02His voice stayed quiet.
10:04A crown alpha's public claim,
10:06once witnessed by the queen consort,
10:08the high priest, and the high pack matriarchs,
10:11cannot be revoked.
10:13I lowered my eyes.
10:14On the next full moon,
10:16I will exchange moon vows with Lady Selina Ravenhaust
10:18in the Silver Moon Court.
10:20From tonight,
10:21she is the future luna queen of Highmore.
10:25He turned to his mother
10:26and lifted his bleeding hand,
10:28showing the silver gash slowly.
10:30If the law demands her death,
10:32bring a second blade.
10:33I will go with her.
10:34Lillian's face went past white.
10:36I lowered my eyes.
10:37Last life,
10:38I begged at his gate
10:39and was dragged out by my hair.
10:41This life,
10:41I said nothing,
10:42and he laid the court at my feet.
10:44By sunrise,
10:46Highmail had a new headline.
10:48The crown alpha had named his luna.
10:50House Ravencrest,
10:52the younger daughter,
10:53the quiet one nobody had ever looked at.
10:55At dawn,
10:56the senior high priest entered Ravenkiss Manor,
10:58tracing every wine cup from cellar to ballroom.
11:01Two hours later,
11:02they found a silver thread
11:03carrying cedar and iris perfume.
11:05Inside a velvet purse,
11:07Lillian had once gifted Marcus.
11:08Adrian folded the report once.
11:10Your Highness,
11:11we have enough to take her down tonight.
11:14No.
11:14Almost gentle.
11:15I want her to walk to it herself.
11:17I went back to my bedroom,
11:18locked the door,
11:19took out the small white porcelain bottle,
11:22Morwena's gift,
11:23the court midwife at my birth.
11:24For 17 years,
11:26they told me it was the only reason
11:27I didn't fall apart.
11:28I believed them.
11:29I drank it every morning
11:30until I stopped asking what was in it.
11:32I set the bottle on the windowsill.
11:34This time,
11:35I didn't lift it to my mouth.
11:37Six hours later,
11:38the headache started behind my left eye.
11:39By dusk,
11:40I was sweating through my collar.
11:41My hands wouldn't stay still.
11:43Lillian,
11:44you've been burning me alive for 17 years.
11:47The girl in the mirror looked back.
11:49Her eyes were darker than I remember.
11:51That fire's about to turn around.
11:52I'm gonna put it under your door.
11:54And then I'm gonna stand in the garden
11:56and watch the smoke.
11:57I had been off the bottle for three days.
11:59The headaches were duller now.
12:01What replaced them was harder to name.
12:03A low heat behind my ribs.
12:04A sharpness in my hearing
12:06I did not used to have.
12:08That morning,
12:08I caught the scent of rain
12:1020 minutes before the rain came.
12:11I did not tell anyone.
12:13My wolf was waking up.
12:15Slowly,
12:16quietly,
12:17the invitation came on
12:18argent silver paper.
12:19Adoption tea.
12:20Highmere Westgarden.
12:21Thursday at 4.
12:22The Westgarden was set for war.
12:24Six high-packed daughters
12:25in pale silk.
12:27The thorn girl very carefully
12:28did not make eye contact with me.
12:30Lady Selina.
12:31Sit.
12:32A maid placed an argent-silver cup
12:34in front of every girl.
12:35Heavy-rimmed,
12:36handles shaped like a wolf's curled tail.
12:39A second maid stepped behind my chair
12:41and set down a plain white porcelain cup.
12:43No crest.
12:43Lady Vae's spoon stopped halfway
12:45to Lady Vae's mouth.
12:46The queen consort did not look at me.
12:48Some bloodlines react poorly
12:50to silver, dear.
12:51Your majesty is so thoughtful.
12:52Then the terrace door opened.
12:54Father Alaric,
12:55senior high priest,
12:5761 years inside the silver moon walls.
12:59Alaric had blessed
13:00the queen consort's own moon vows.
13:02Alaric bowed to her majesty first.
13:04Protocol.
13:05Then Alaric stopped at my chair.
13:07And Alaric bent his head lower
13:08than he had just bent it
13:09to the queen consort.
13:11My lady.
13:11Alaric had just bowed
13:13to a raven crest.
13:14The true line.
13:15The one that should have sat
13:16at the head of this table.
13:17Alaric's body knew.
13:18The queen consort knew what it meant.
13:20So did every woman at that table.
13:22Back in my bedroom,
13:23I uncorked the porcelain bottle.
13:25I poured the rest
13:26into the wash basin.
13:27I pressed two fingers to my neck.
13:29My pulse was steadier
13:31than it had any right to be.
13:32Deeper.
13:33Nobody in that court
13:34knows what is coming back.
13:3517 years of being burned down
13:37to a quiet, pale, forgettable girl.
13:40First time as Selim's betrothed,
13:43Adrian walked up the raven has steps
13:44in dove gray mourning dress
13:46with a small black velvet box.
13:49Inside, an algent royal hairpin.
13:51800 years old.
13:53Moonstone center.
13:54Wolf and moon engraving.
13:56Lady Ravenhust had been crying
13:57since breakfast.
13:59Happy crying.
14:00The kind Lady Ravenhust
14:01had never once cried
14:02for Selina before.
14:03Last life,
14:04when my husband first
14:05walked me in this door,
14:06Lady Ravencrest told the housekeeper
14:08to wipe the threshold
14:09after I crossed it.
14:10A maid came running.
14:11Lord Ravencrest,
14:13please, Lady Lillian,
14:15the east wing,
14:16she's...
14:16The maid could not finish the word.
14:18The whole house moved.
14:20Lord Ravenfield,
14:21Lady Ravenfield,
14:22Cassian Selim's older brother
14:23in from his regiment.
14:24Adrian set the velvet box down
14:26without looking at it.
14:27Slow.
14:28Selina had seen this scene before.
14:30Not in this life.
14:31In the next one over.
14:32The attic.
14:33One window.
14:34Cedar beams.
14:36A length of white silk ribbon
14:37folded neatly
14:38on the floorboards
14:39beside the chair.
14:40Lillian was already
14:41in Adrian's arms.
14:43Long lashes wet.
14:44A delicate flutter of breath
14:46against Adrian's collarbone.
14:48Not a mark on Lillian's throat.
14:50Cassian gripped Lillian's free hand.
14:52Lily.
14:53Lily, listen to me.
14:55Nobody in this family
14:57will leave you.
14:58Do you hear me?
14:59Nobody.
15:00Lady Ravencowls
15:01stroked Lillian's hair.
15:03Sweet girl.
15:05Sweet, sweet girl.
15:07Lord Ravencrest
15:08wiped his eyes
15:09with his sleeve
15:09like a farmhand.
15:10He saw me in the doorway.
15:12He did not see Lillian.
15:13What he saw.
15:14A pale girl.
15:15Lips bloodless.
15:16A thin pink ring of strain
15:18around my irises.
15:19He does not know
15:20Wolfsbane withdrawal
15:21when he sees it.
15:22He does not know
15:23I have been off the bottle
15:24for two days.
15:25What he knew.
15:26Something in his own chest
15:27pulled, sharp and hot.
15:29He chalked it up
15:29to a poor night's sleep.
15:31Down the garden path.
15:32Alone.
15:33White roses.
15:34Lillian was at the attic glass.
15:36Color back in her cheeks.
15:37One small hand
15:39on the windowpane.
15:40She smiled at me.
15:42Soft, sweet, triumphant.
15:44Three days after the attic,
15:45the wind had turned
15:46in Ravencrest.
15:48Half the high-pack matrons
15:49found their way
15:50to Lillian's daybed
15:51before noon.
15:52By Thursday,
15:53Lady Ravencrest
15:54asked the housekeeper
15:54whether Lillian might still
15:56come to the Equinos Reet.
15:57That afternoon,
15:59a courier from
15:59the Silvermoon Court
16:01came through
16:01the Algum West Wing.
16:03Six lines on
16:04sheetful parchment
16:05in the Queen Consort's
16:06own hand.
16:07Should Lady Selene Ravencrest,
16:09prior to the exchange
16:10of moon vows,
16:11be revealed to possess
16:12a flaw of bloodline,
16:14character,
16:14or conduct unbecoming
16:15of a future Luna Queen,
16:17the Algern House
16:18reserves
16:18the unilateral right
16:20to withdraw said vows.
16:21A backup plan.
16:23A girl who could be
16:23torn up at any time.
16:26The Hall of Elders,
16:27twelve along both sides.
16:29The Queen Concord
16:30at the head,
16:31hands folded.
16:32Adrian read it once.
16:33Adrian.
16:34Read it again.
16:35Stood up.
16:36Adrian picked up
16:36the parchment.
16:38Tore it.
16:38Crosswise.
16:39Then again.
16:41Then again.
16:42Adrian's gold eyes
16:43had gone to a color
16:44the Elders hadn't seen
16:45in four hundred years.
16:46A slow,
16:47banked fire.
16:48The pieces fell
16:50on the council table.
16:51Adrian faced his mother.
16:53Full court protocol.
16:54Hand on chest.
16:55Mother.
16:56The Queen Consort
16:57may add any claws
16:58to Adrian's moon vows.
16:59As long as the claws
17:01protects Selina,
17:02the Queen Consort
17:03may not add a single word
17:04that lets Adrian
17:05throw Selina away.
17:07The Queen Consort
17:07did not answer.
17:08He came back to Ravencrest
17:10before sundown.
17:11He found me
17:12in the small drawing room.
17:13Tea I had not drunk.
17:15Hands folded
17:16to hide the tremor.
17:17He did not ask
17:18about Lillian.
17:19Did not mention the attic.
17:20Did not perform anything.
17:21He knelt one knee.
17:23He opened the velvet
17:24box.
17:24He or in Velva.
17:26May I?
17:27He lifted my hair
17:29off my shoulder
17:29with the back
17:30of his bandaged hand.
17:31The hand that had
17:32closed around a silver
17:33blade for me
17:34four nights ago.
17:35He slid the
17:36Argent Royal hairpin
17:37in just above
17:38my left temple.
17:39Slow.
17:39The yellow gold
17:40settled cool
17:41against my scalp.
17:42His fingertip brushed
17:43the shell of my ear.
17:44Without warning.
17:45My eyes filled.
17:47He saw it.
17:48He did not say a word.
17:50He brought his
17:50bandaged hand up.
17:51He caught the one tear
17:53on his knuckle
17:53before it could fall.
17:56He came back at dawn.
17:58Adrian set it on the writing desk
17:59and opened it the way
18:00a surgeon opens a chest.
18:02A glass vial of
18:03Britonite.
18:04Court tagged.
18:04A list of every servant
18:06who touched a wine tray
18:07on first moon night.
18:08A velvet purse Lillian
18:09had once gifted Marcus.
18:10Slit open.
18:11One silver thread.
18:12One folded note.
18:13One dried sprig of irie.
18:15And last.
18:16Half a porcelain wine cup.
18:17On the underside.
18:18A single scratched red mark.
18:20He found my proof.
18:22The one detail
18:22I never told him.
18:24I'm not going to ask
18:25if you knew.
18:26Good.
18:27I'm going to ask you
18:28what you want to do.
18:29My sister doesn't die yet.
18:30He waited.
18:31She watches my moon vows.
18:33She watches the silver moon
18:34court bow
18:35when my name is read.
18:36She watches my father
18:38take back the seat
18:39at the head table
18:40she made him give her.
18:41She watches every
18:42high pack matriarch
18:43who kurtzled to her
18:44three Oscars ago
18:45kurt to me instead.
18:46And then, only then
18:47she finds out
18:48what's waiting
18:49at the bottom of the cup.
18:50Understood.
18:51You're not going
18:51to ask me why?
18:52No.
18:53I figured most of it
18:54out at the gate
18:54when she pointed at you
18:55and called you a brothel pup.
18:57I'll wait for the rest.
18:58Two lifetimes.
18:59The first man
19:00who didn't ask me
19:01to explain my anger
19:02before he agreed
19:03to back it.
19:04He came around the desk.
19:06Looked at me.
19:06Bruise on my collarbone
19:08from his teeth
19:08four nights ago
19:09had faded to a pale
19:10violet ring.
19:11He lifted his hand.
19:13Stopped.
19:14Asked.
19:14With his eyes.
19:16I owe you a clean memory
19:17of me touching you.
19:18You don't owe me anything,
19:19your highness.
19:20He drew me into his chest.
19:22Slow.
19:23No drug in his blood
19:24this time.
19:25No haze.
19:26I let my forehead
19:28rest on his shoulder
19:29for exactly four seconds.
19:30Then I stepped back.
19:32He didn't try to keep me.
19:34Crossed the gardens
19:35in the east wing.
19:38Lillian Ravencrest
19:39on her knees
19:39in front of a small panel
19:41of floorboards
19:42she'd plied up
19:43the night before.
19:44Under the panel
19:45a flat priest's disc
19:47etched with old runes.
19:49What do I do now?
19:51She'd been calling that name
19:53into the dark for years.
19:54A household prayer.
19:55A dead midwife's charm.
19:57She didn't know
19:58the woman who answered
19:58was the one
19:59who'd built her cage.
20:00Across the manor
20:01in Adrian's arms
20:03my eyes closed.
20:05The red ring
20:05around my irises
20:06had thinned
20:07by a shade.
20:08On the windowsill
20:09the porcelain bottle
20:10was down to a quarter.
20:12Palace gates
20:12would not open.
20:14Lillian had been
20:15so sure
20:15the gates would open.
20:17She powdered her face
20:18for an hour.
20:18She wore the
20:19pearl blue cloak
20:20the queen consort
20:21once said
20:22brought out her eyes.
20:24Her majesty
20:24is not receiving
20:25visitors today.
20:26Three different guards.
20:27Her majesty
20:28is not receiving
20:28visitors today.
20:29Three identical sentences.
20:31Her majesty
20:32is not receiving
20:33visitors today.
20:33At the fourth gate
20:35Lillian gave up.
20:36Lillian stood
20:37on the marble steps
20:38in pearl blue silk
20:39and watched a butcher's boy
20:41let through a side door
20:42because the boy
20:42had a delivery.
20:44Home before nightfall.
20:45Cloak off.
20:47East wing.
20:47Attic door locked.
20:49Panel up.
20:50Palms flat
20:51on the priest's disc.
20:52Morwenna.
20:53Lillian's voice cracked.
20:55The queen consort
20:56won't see me.
20:57The matriarchs
20:57are starting to talk.
20:59Adrian tore up
20:59my supplemental clause
21:00in front of the council.
21:01I need you to fix
21:02the blessing again.
21:04Just reinforce it.
21:05Please.
21:06Silence.
21:07Then not in Lillian's ears
21:09but in the back
21:10of Lillian's skull
21:11the way Morwenna's
21:12answers always came.
21:14Use Cassian.
21:15Three words.
21:16Cold.
21:16Final.
21:17She sat back
21:17on her heels.
21:18He had loved her
21:19like a first daughter
21:20since she was four.
21:22An unmated alpha
21:23with a soft spot
21:24that size
21:25was exactly
21:26the kind of weapon
21:27she knew how to use.
21:28She unlocked
21:29the bottom drawer.
21:30She pulled out the vial.
21:31Velvet Fang's mark
21:33was etched in the glass.
21:35One dose of Bride Knight
21:36was left inside.
21:37She smoothed her hair.
21:39She practiced the smile.
21:41Cassian will believe
21:42anything Lillian tells Cassian.
21:45Cassian always has.
21:48The family dinner
21:49was Mother's idea.
21:51Just direct blood.
21:52We need to be a family again
21:53before the moon vows.
21:55Which meant
21:55Lillian was coming back
21:57to the table.
21:58Neither of them
21:58had the spine
21:59to say no.
22:00Father at the head.
22:01Mother to his right.
22:03Cassius to his left
22:04back from the regiment.
22:05Lillian below Mother.
22:07Then me.
22:08Then Adrian.
22:09Sitting on my side.
22:10His bandaged hand
22:11resting open beside mine.
22:13Between the soup
22:14and the lamb.
22:15Mother brought it out.
22:16A small lacquered box.
22:18Five generations old.
22:20She lifted out
22:21the silver comb.
22:22My grandmother
22:22held this on her first moon.
22:24My mother.
22:25Me.
22:26Tradition says
22:27a true born
22:28ravenfeshed daughter
22:29passes a hand over it
22:30and if the blood is good
22:31the silver knows.
22:33Lillian took the comb.
22:34She'd taken it
22:35eighteen times in her life.
22:36She knew the trick.
22:38What she had not
22:39been raised on
22:39was how much
22:40it would hurt
22:40the eighteenth time.
22:42After three days
22:43kneeling on a priest disc
22:44asking a witch
22:44for fresh favors.
22:46The silver bit.
22:47A clean line
22:48of white pain
22:48shot up her wrist.
22:49She felt the skin
22:50start to lift
22:51in a blister.
22:51She held the comb
22:52for the regulation
22:53three seconds.
22:54Set it back.
22:55Light hand.
22:56Beautiful.
22:57Her smile was perfect.
22:58Under the linen
22:58her left fist
22:59was tight enough
23:00the nails broke skin.
23:01Mother turned to me.
23:02Salona.
23:03Mother had never
23:04put this comb
23:05in front of me
23:06in front of me before.
23:06Last life
23:07by the time
23:08I came back
23:08to Ravenwith
23:09the comb
23:09had been lost
23:10in a move.
23:12Just for tradition dear.
23:14Just so we can all see.
23:16I let the comb
23:17settle into my palm.
23:18No bite.
23:19No heat.
23:20Then the silver
23:21caught light
23:22that wasn't in the room
23:23and gave it back.
23:24A faint white glow
23:25ran the length
23:26of the handle.
23:27Mother's hand
23:27was halfway
23:28to her mouth.
23:29Cassian's chair
23:30scraped a quarter inch
23:31backward on its own.
23:32Father set his fork
23:34down very carefully.
23:35Lillian laughed
23:36very lightly.
23:37Oh mother
23:38you know Selena.
23:39She's always been
23:40a bit off.
23:41Probably some funny
23:42low blood reaction.
23:44Even silver
23:45gets confused.
23:46Across the city
23:47in his study
23:48at High Meal Palace
23:49Adrian Valentine Rowe
23:50was reading a report
23:51on grain prices.
23:52At 8 14 p.m.
23:53the exact minute
23:54the silver glowed
23:55in my palm
23:55he set the report down
23:57put one hand flat
23:58against his sternum
23:59and waited for
23:59whatever was happening
24:00inside his chest
24:01to stop.
24:02It didn't stop
24:03for almost a minute.
24:06He told himself
24:07he hadn't slept well.
24:09I went back
24:10to my room
24:11before pudding
24:12knelt on the hearth
24:13in my dinner slicks
24:14pushed the white
24:15porcelain bottle
24:16deep under the bed
24:17of cold ash.
24:19Lillian came to my
24:20door at sunrise.
24:21Pale silk wrapper
24:22eyes red around
24:23the edges
24:24the careful walk
24:25of a girl
24:25who had not slept.
24:26Selena
24:27please
24:28Cassian wants
24:29to apologize
24:30for first moon
24:31for taking my side
24:32too fast.
24:33Cassian is too proud
24:34to say it in the house.
24:35Cassian will only say it
24:36at the west tower.
24:37The west tower
24:38cedar woods
24:3920 minutes walk
24:39from the manon
24:40last life
24:41Lillian set Selina up
24:42with Marcus
24:43in a garden gabbo
24:44this life
24:45Selina's big brother
24:46in a tower
24:46same script
24:47better casting
24:48of course
24:50lead the way.
24:51Last life
24:52she set me up
24:52with Marcus
24:53in a garden gabbo
24:54this life
24:55my big brother
24:55in a tower
24:56same script
24:57better casting
24:58Lillian walked
24:59ahead
25:00Lillian looked
25:01back once
25:03Lillian smiled
25:04once
25:05then Lillian
25:06looked back
25:06again
25:07three times
25:08three smiles
25:10each one
25:11a little wider
25:1220 paces
25:13from the tower
25:14door
25:14the wind shifted
25:15Selen caught it
25:16on the back
25:16of Selena's throat
25:17the smell
25:17of a man
25:18Selenie had
25:18bitten through
25:19the skin
25:19four nights
25:20ago
25:20bright and night
25:21there you are
25:22found you in the trees
25:23the tower door
25:24was unlashed
25:24Lillian stopped
25:25turned
25:26the careful smile
25:27was gone
25:27after you Selina
25:29she lifted her hand
25:30to my shoulder
25:30a small push
25:32I let her hand land
25:33while her weight
25:34was on it
25:35while she was
25:35already mid shove
25:36I stepped sideways
25:38half a body's length
25:39clean
25:40her push
25:41went through
25:42empty air
25:42she stumbled forward
25:43I caught her
25:44under the arms
25:45dragged her three feet
25:46through the open door
25:47set her down inside
25:48gently
25:48the way I would
25:49lay down a dress
25:50on the bed
25:50at the back of the room
25:51Cassian was already
25:52half gone
25:52shirt open
25:53skin slick
25:54argent blue eyes
25:55blown black
25:56black
25:56six
25:56one
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