r 12 Ledger Of Betrayal tt Finished Tamsin circles me with a wooden staff in her hands . " Feet apart . Chin high . Don't look timid , " she says . " I'm not timid , " I retort , lifting my staff . She lunges fast . I barely block the impact . My arms vibrate with pain . " You're angry , " she says . " Good . Use it . Anger makes you move . " I swing - harder this time . She parries easily , but her grin sharpens . " Better . " We clash again . My arms ache , my palms sting , but Nyx breathes under my skin , feeding me strength . Every strike I miss , I curse . Every strike I land , even half - right , I let the fury in my chest burn brighter . When she finally calls halt , sweat drips into my eyes . " You see ? " she says . " You fight better furious than meek ." I lean on the staff , panting . " I thought Lunas were meant to be graceful ." " They are , " she says dryly . " Grace is just dominance wearing perfume . Now drink . " I drain the waterskin she tosses me . My whole body trembles . " Next ― etiquette , " she says . I groan . " After this ? " " Yes . You'll face the Conclave soon . They'll look for cracks . Every bow , every word matters . " She marches me into the small hall . We practice curtsies , greetings , the way to take a seat without lowering my gaze . She slaps my shoulder each time I falter . " Again . Keep your spine straight . Hold the silence until they squirm ." I repeat until my legs ache more than from sparring . At last she nods . " Not perfect . But you'll do ." Back in my chamber , I almost collapse on the bed with exhaustion - only to stiffen when the door opens . Alpha Kade marches inside . His gaze sweeps the room and catches on the sapphire crown lying 1/3 21:33 Wed , Oct 15 Chapter 12 Ledger of Betrayal across my quilt . His jaw tightens . " I commanded you not to wear it , Freya ," he you did . " 1 fold my arms . " It is mine . My power . I can wear it if I wish to . " His black eyes flash with anger . " You defied a direct order . " " Your order , " I bite back . " Not the Moon's ." " I am your Alpha ! And I'm your husband ! " Finished says . " And yet I scoff . " My husband ? " I whisper the words . " You haven't been mine for a long time , Kade . " He swallows at that . I shake my head . " Actually , I can't remember the last time you were in my chamber . " For a breath , silence stretches . My mind betrays me - remembering the night of the full moon , when his wolf had found mine in the woods . The gentleness . The nuzzle . The way it almost felt like care . Why ? I shake the thought away . " You shouldn't have disobeyed me like that , Freya . I let you keep the crown , didn't I ? " He steps closer , voice low . " Why did you fire the head housekeeper ? " I glance up at him , study the face I long suspected of weakening me . Even now that I know the truth , there's no relief in me . Just a numb sensation . But I can finally tell him . " Because she was poisoning me . " My voice breaks on the words , but I push on . " On Izel's orders ... she had been slipping wolfsbane into my food . Izel's a witch , Kade . She's been using glamours- " His face hardens like stone . " Enough ." My chest heaves with a heavy breath , tears pricking the corners of my eyes . " It's the truth , Kade . She's been trying to muzzle my wolf . If I hadn't found out - I could be dead in a few days ." " You accuse the lady of this house without proof ? " His tone sharpens , full Alpha now . " You shame yourself ." Of course , I knew he wouldn't believe me . My tears , my pain are nothing to him . The humiliation I feel fades and anger bursts hot in my chest . When he turns to leave , I grab his arm . The bond sparks under my palm , that familiar current trickling between us . His body goes still . I , on the other hand , am overtaken by the urge to move closer to him , to his scent . But I hold back . " You saw me in the woods that night . Near the stream , " I whisper . " Did you never wonder why Emris couldn't sense Nyx for six years ? I told you what I thought it was - grief . My mother's death . Finn's birth - you know how painful it was . I nearly died , Kade . You held me . " I shake my head , knowing I'm trailing off point . " But did you never think something else was at play ? 2/3 21:33 Wed , Oct 15 121 edger Of Detraval Something unnatural ? I was weak . But can't you feel the power in me now ? " The word High Luna hovers on my tongue , but I swallow it back . ர " It's because I'm no longer eating at the table where I was being served poisoned food . And I've been taking antidotes regularly . I've been getting stronger . " His eyes drop to my hand gripping his arm . When they lift , softened for one fleeting heartbeat , I almost forget to breathe . Then he jerks away . " Don't touch me , " he says , hurried , and strides out . The chamber is silent again , heavy with his absence . I drop to my knees in defeat , and then scream in anger . I let myself look weak in front of him . If he cared , even a little , he wouldn't be with her . If he cared , he'd think twice before calling me a liar . It's true . He hasn't been mine for a long time . Suddenly , a shadow flutters at the window . Rowan's raven.` It lands on the sill , claws tapping wood . A thick scrap of parchment is tied to its leg . I walk to it , my legs heavy after the conversation with my unfaithful husband . I untie the parchment with trembling fingers . Proof enclosed . Izel bought wolfsbane from a coven in the Ashen Market . Use it well . Another sheet , rolled inside the parchment , falls into my lap . I unfurl it . A ledger , marked with Izel's name , a witch's sigil , and the dates and amounts of poison . My hands shake . I have proof . Nyx growls inside me , fierce with satisfaction . Send Gifts