ARIA POINT OF VIEW.

We were still standing in the courtyard when footsteps approached us from behind.

I turned just as a guard stepped forward, holding a carved wooden box in both hands. Behind him, another guard carried two smaller bundles wrapped in pale cloth. They stopped a few steps away and bowed.

“My lady,” the first guard said, lowering his head, “these are for you. They were delivered this morning from Frostborne, from Alpha Lucian.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “From ...