Chapter 16 Paper Daggers Parilished It's well past midnight , but I don't have an ounce of sleep in me . The Hunt Display ended hours ago , yet I still see Kade's fear right in front of my eyes - the way he warned me not to stir rebellion when he saw how the pack members admired my strength . He was afraid of me . I never thought I'd see such a day . My feet carry me to the balcony where the moon shines bright against the night sky . It isn't long before Rowan's raven flutters to me , appearing out of nowhere as a darker blotch in the sky . It perches on the balcony rail and watches me intently . " You haven't brought anything ? " I ask , feeling disappointed . The raven croaks , " Kah - kah . " It opens its wings wide before withdrawing them , showing me it has nothing . A sigh escapes my lips . " I only want a word , " I whisper to no one . " I want to know that he's alive . That he's safe . " The bird only tilts its head . Nyx stirs . ' He hears you . One way or another .' Border patrol has tightened . I overheard a Gamma say they almost caught a rogue from Nightfell , but he tricked them and fled . The news unnerved me because now Kade knows rogues have been trespassing on the borders . The High Council's game is playing out just as they thought it would . And Rowan's move started it all when he first approached me . The High Council wants to get rid of Nightfell without getting its hands dirty . And they probably want to get rid of me because they think I'm High Luna . ' You are , Nyx emphasises , making me inhale sharply . "I don't even know what it means , " I say to the moon . A firm knock drags me out of my thoughts . I ignore it once , thinking it's my imagination . But it comes again . If the person wants to attack or hurt me , they won't come knocking . " Enter , " I say cautiously , my hand drifting closer to the pointed staff propped against the wall . Jax steps in , closing the door behind him . " Luna . " I step away from the balcony . " At this hour ? " 1/4 21:34 Wed , Oct 15 Chapter 16 Paper Drages 270 Extimed He sets a bundle on my desk . " These are fresh ledgers - forged by Izel . They are dated years ago . I brought them here before they could end up in the Alpha's vault . " 1 look at the bundle . " You risked much bringing them . " " I serve the pack . And I serve its Luna , " he says without flinching , then clasps his hands behind his back , awaiting my command . My throat goes dry . I haven't been in the position of giving commands for years , and now it all feels strange . Gathering my nerves , I untie the cloth . The ledgers are thick , stained with ink . I open the first one . Grain tallies . Wages . Nothing unusual . But then I pause . My brow furrows . Symbols scatter the margin . I point . " What is this ? " Jax steps forward and studies the shapes . " I knew something strange was going on , " he says , a crease forming between his brows . " Can you read it ? " " No , Luna . " Nyx presses forward . ' Witchcraft . ' I swallow . Jax notices . " You think it's a spell ? " A shudder goes through me . How did he come to that conclusion ? " What? " He clears his throat . " You called her a witch in the nursery . I thought it was an insult , but now I see it . How else could she have made all of this possible ? Taking over the Alpha , I understand . But your children , too ? There's no natural explanation for it ." I nod weakly , realising I'd let that slip . For a moment , discomfort overwhelms me . Then relief seeps in . He didn't dismiss me . He didn't say I was making an accusation . Jax believes me , unlike Kade . He still has enough control over his mind to think straight and logically . I turn another page . Lists of herbs . Crates of tonics . The sums are high , far higher than what a keep consumes . " These figures are impossible ," I say . 2/4 21:34 Wed , Oct 15 Chapter 16 Paper DagoFTS Finished " They're not kitchen herbs , " Jax answers , trailing his finger along the paper to read the entire entry . " They're tinctures . Wolfsbane . Nightshade . Hemlock . All bought under your name . " My stomach twists . What if she wasn't just poisoning me ? What if Kade is also a target ? I pull the parchment closer and start copying . " Forged finances . Illegal tonics . We'll make a record of every page . " Jax nods once . The raven shifts on the rail , claws scratching wood . Its black eyes stay on me as I copy the marks . The candle sputters . Shadows stretch across the desk . I pause , my eyes flicking to the margins . I should copy the symbols too . If I can somehow reach Rowan again ... Deep in my gut , I know he can help me with this . I copy them , mindful of the beta's eyes on me . Jax turns another ledger . He taps a page . " See here . Payments to ' Merrin Trade . There is no Merrin Trade in Silvercrest ." " False merchants ? " " Yes . " I write quickly . " Then funds are being laundered . " " Exactly . Through ghosts ." The dossier grows - page after page , copied entries . At last , Jax lays a thinner ledger on the desk . " This one is different . It's too clean . " I open it . The rows are straight and the sums precise . At the bottom of the last page , a signature sweeps bold across the parchment . My breath stills . " Elder Thane . " The chamber goes colder . Jax's jaw tightens . " This is dangerous . Elder Thane is our pack's delegate on the High Council . He has a permanent vote on all matters in their power . This ledger - it ties them ." The raven croaks suddenly , fluttering its wings and taking flight . As I watch it disappear into the sky , I whisper the name again . " Elder Thane ." 3/4 21:34 Wed , Oct 15 The Alpha's Betrayal Rise Of The Rejected Luna Chapter 17 The Prophecy