Lilac lay still in Alaric's arms, her breathing shallow as blood seeped through the coral silk of her gown. The enchanted dagger pulsed with dark energy where it protruded from between her shoulder blades, its obsidian hilt drinking in the light. The room was stunned to find the face of the Nightshade Alpha. On top of that, Lilac being his mate was huge. But none of those thoughts touched Alaric.

His aura exploded outward, shattering nearby goblets and sending candles guttering. A ...