THORNE POINT OF VIEW

The council chamber was full, voices moving back and forth about borders, patrols, trade routes. I heard every word, answered when needed, nodded at the right moments.

But my mind was nowhere near Shadowfang.

It was with Aria.

I knew where she had spent the night. Frostborne. Lucian’s pack. The knowledge sat in my chest like a stone. I kept seeing it without meaning to, Lucian’s attention, his smiles, the way he looked at her like she already belonged to him.

The ...