Dorian at the Gate

Sophia's POV

Six weeks after Leonidas died, Alpha Dorian came to the castle alone.

I was in the east garden when Kael brought me the news — sitting with the frost roses in the thin winter sun, making use of the brief window of warmth that occasionally appeared in the coldest months like a miscommunication between the seasons, a day that had arrived not knowing it was the wrong time of year and had decided to stay anyway.

"Alone?" I said.

"On foot," Kael confirmed. "He came ...