Val stood by the large windows in his private chamber, watching the daylight paint the fortress courtyards. His mind was focused, as always, but a strange current of anticipation ran beneath his thoughts. He knew Rain would be bringing her soon. The human. His Collar.

Thinking back to his decision hours ago, he still couldn't quite explain why he had decided to bring her to the feast.

The reasoning had shifted from anger, to curiosity, and from curiosity to a strange, undefined sense of ...