The Ironwood delegation arrives at dawn, which tells me everything I need to know about Donovan's state of mind.
Desperate men come early.
Confident ones make you wait.
I'm standing in the great hall when they enter—the same hall where, four days ago, Donovan tried to leverage my grief into a power grab.
Same hall where I've barely slept since, coordinating reconstruction, managing refugees, and pretending my chest doesn't feel like it's caving in every time I remember Alaric's cry fading into the darkness.
But Donovan doesn't need to know that.
"Luna Sophia." He dips his head—barely.
His two wolves flank him, hands resting on weapons. "Thank you for agreeing to this meeting."
"I didn't agree to anything." I stay where I am, arms crossed.
"You demanded an audience. I'm giving y
