Malrik POV

Quillan drifted away, leaving Foster at my flank silent, steady, a shadow that never left my side. From the corner of my eye I saw Roarke Fenwick approaching: Vice Chairman of the council and an old ally.

“Alpha Malrikarion, good to see you,” he said, offering a warm hand.

I took it, nodded. Roarke’s presence here wasn’t unexpected; his family didn’t sit among the Nine, but his reach ran deep.

“You were planning not to come?” I teased, raising an eyebrow.

He ...