The silence after my outburst was deafening.
Twelve of the most powerful beings in Noctis Vhaelor sat frozen in their seats. Every eye turned toward me—and none of them looked amused.
And yet, I didn’t regret it.
I’d do it again.
Every word, every threat, every warning that had slipped past my lips, I meant.
No one would feed from her.
No one would touch her.
I could still feel Lyric’s pulse under my tongue. Still smell her sweat. Her blood. Her pleasure. It coated me. It marked me. And the thought of someone else experiencing that was making me and Tai murderous.
“What did you say?” Councilman Yai asked, breaking the silence.
“I believe the words were clear, councilman.”
“Your mate,” someone repeated. “He said she’s his mate.”
“You can’t bind yourself to a wolf,” another counci
