Chapter 3

The Wolf Fortress sat in the deepest reaches of the Black Forest.

When the stone gates opened, hundreds, even thousands, of wolves knelt on either side.

I was placed in a chair beside the throne.

A healer brought me a tonic.

I didn't drink.

Alpha picked up a silver blade and drew it across his own palm.

His blood dripped into the cup. "My blood can detect poison."

I stared at the cup. "Why do you trust me?"

Alpha said, "Because my blood submits to you."

His hand hadn't stopped trembling.

A red-haired she-wolf stepped forward, hostility burning in her eyes. "My king, the vampires killed three of our alphas. She spills one drop of blood and gets to sit here?"

Alpha looked at her. "Keira Voss. Kneel."

Keira clenched her jaw. "I don't kneel to vampires."

I set the cup down. "I never asked you to."

Keira smirked. "At least you know your place."

The words barely left her mouth before her knees buckled.

Alpha hadn't moved.

No guard had touched her.

Her own body betrayed her.

She looked up at me, fear spreading across her face.

Another drop of blood fell from my wound.

Keira's forehead slammed against the stone floor.

The great hall of the Wolf Fortress went silent.

Keira was still on her knees.

She strained with everything she had to stand.

Her knees didn't budge.

I pressed my hand over my wrist.

Once the bleeding stopped, the force vanished.

Keira shot to her feet, face ashen. "Witchcraft."

Alpha's voice cut through the hall. "Disrespect her again, and you're out of the pack."

Keira glared at me. "A vampire has no right to rule us."

I said, "I don't want to."

Alpha spun around at once. "My sovereign."

"Don't call me that," I said.

He raised a hand, and a wolf guard brought forward a black leather tome. "It is the ancient oath."

The pages were covered in ancient wolf script.

I couldn't read it.

Alpha turned to the last page. "Luna grants her blood, the wolves serve their sovereign. While the sovereign lives, the frenzy is tamed. When the sovereign falls, the pack perishes."

Keira gritted her teeth. "That's only a legend."

Alpha turned to her. "How did your father die?"

The color drained from Keira's face.

The pack healer, Elian Mossvein, murmured. "The frenzy."

Across the hall, many wolves bowed their heads.

Only then did I learn that wolves didn't only fear silver.

They feared losing control under the full moon.

The stronger the bloodline, the more easily they fell into the frenzy.

Every full moon, Alpha had to be locked in an iron cage.

The previous Alpha had been consumed by the frenzy and killed by his own pack.

Alpha held the cup out to me. "Your blood can suppress the frenzy."

I said, "So you need me."

"We need you, and we submit."

I laughed. "Need and submission aren't the same thing."

Alpha said nothing.

I drank the tonic.

My wounds began to close.

Elian dropped to his knees, voice shaking with excitement. "My king, her blood can reverse silver poisoning."

Keira stared at my wrist.

The silver shackles had once burned the flesh there raw.

Now only faint marks remained.

Alpha asked me, "Who put those silver shackles on you?"

I said, "Maya."

Low growls rumbled through the hall.

Alpha asked again, "Who signed the sacrificial contract?"

I said, "Victor."

Keira spoke suddenly. "The vampire prince, Victor?"

I nodded.

She laughed coldly. "He killed my brother."

Alpha gave her a look.

Keira fell silent.

I was given a room on the highest floor of the Wolf Fortress.

Twelve wolf guards stood watch outside my door.

After nightfall, Alpha stationed himself outside. "You should rest."

I sat on the edge of the bed. "Aren't you afraid I'll run?"

"If you wish to leave, no one will stop you."

"Then why are you standing guard?"

"Vampire assassins."

I looked up. "They think I'm dead. Victor doesn't leave loose ends."

At midnight, the window burst open.

Three vampire assassins crashed in.

They wore the black cloaks of the Rheinhardt family.

The leader spotted me alive, and his pupils contracted. "My lady?"

It had been a long time since anyone called me that.

I recognized him.

It was Norman Rook, Victor's most trusted servant.

He had been in charge of delivering food to the North Tower.

Every time, he deliberately poured the cold blood onto the floor so I'd have to get on my knees and lick it up.

Norman's surprise turned to a sneer. "The prince guessed right. You really aren't dead."

Alpha pushed through the door.

Norman saw him and stumbled back. "Alpha."

Alpha's hand closed around his throat. "Who sent you?"

Norman kept his mouth shut.

Alpha tightened his grip.

A bone cracked.

Norman screamed. "It was the prince."

Alpha asked, "What were your orders?"

"Confirm she's dead. Bring back her heart."

The room went cold.

Alpha looked at me. "Would you like to interrogate him yourself?"

I walked up to Norman.

Sweat beaded on his forehead. "My lady, I was only following orders."

"Who told you to pour out the blood in the North Tower?" I asked.

Norman blinked. "That was nothing..."

I raised my hand.

My fingertip touched his forehead.

Moonlight spilled through the window.

Norman began to scream.

His fangs retracted, inch by inch, sinking back into his gums.

Elian rushed in, voice breaking. "She's stripping his vampire power."

Norman collapsed to his knees. "Stop. My lady, I was wrong."

I pulled my hand away.

He was already human.

Alpha held out a blade to me. "Kill him?"

I looked at Norman. "No."

Norman let out a breath of relief.

I said, "Send him back to Rheinhardt Castle."

Alpha raised an eyebrow. "With what message?"

I crouched down and looked into Norman's trembling face. "Tell Victor he didn't finish the job."

Outside the window, a black crow landed on the stone railing.

Its eyes were blood red.