Chapter 23 The King's Debt ( 115 ) Finished The anger I felt during my conversation with Kade carries over to the next day , making me clench my hands into fists even as I watch Finn play from the railing above the yard . Kade thought he'd pretend to be clueless , to be out of control with Izel , and get away with it ? He thought he could soften me with his words and his fake , gentle touches , bringing up our mate bond ? He doesn't know there's no softness in me left . At least not for him . I pace restlessly , my heart heavy . It's not just Kade I'm thinking of . It's also what's coming next . The Conclave feels like a huge boulder rolling at me with a speed I'm certain will crush me . If the High Council is truly involved with Izel - through Elder Thane - what chances do I have ? How would I know they haven't rigged anything to make me fail on purpose ? And will half the pack really follow me if I successfully claim Severance ? If that does happen , delusionally so , it doesn't sound anything like the prophecy Rowan told me about . The High Luna is meant to bring empires together . Not break them . Silvercrest is a centuries - old dynasty . It has seen numerous Alphas and High Lunas . Who am I to divide it ? My thoughts break when a strange scent hits my nostrils . It's foreign , wrong ... evil . Ahead of me , just above Finn , a dark blotch begins to form , hovering like an opaque cloud that keeps expanding . Nyx growls , deep in my chest . ' Move ! ' The warning comes too late . Shadows bloom from the cloud itself - blotches darker than night , hovering and twisting like smoke with substance . They move down toward Finn , fluid and hungry , and he screams , stumbling to his feet . The boy in front of him runs to the side , saving himself . I don't think . I sprint down the stairs , running as fast as my feet can carry me and lunge , calling forth Nyx's shield . But the clouds multiply , writhing , burning wherever they touch me . " Finn ! " I scream , reaching for him helplessly , though my eyes refuse to open . I groan in anger , commanding Nyx's power . She offers it without bounds . I force my eyes open and see . The first shadow hovers over Finn . I crash into it , hands outstretched , and it splits into three , licking my skin with black fire , passing through the shield with some effort . Pain sears through me , hot and biting , and I stumble , pulling back - but more blotches swirl toward him . The guards hesitate , frozen , unwilling - or too terrified - to step into the smoke . " No ! " I roar , throwing myself at him . Each shadow that touches me bursts into sparks that singe my arms , my face . My fingers curl , nails scraping sand , but I protect Finn's body with mine , keeping him out of reach of the shadows . Yet , Finn screams . " Mama ! " 1/4 21:37 Wed , Oct 15 Chapter 23 The King's Debt Finished I twist , grab him , try to pull him back inside the keep - but another shadow wraps around his legs , coiling , hot and alive . Then another grabs my leg and drags us both to the edge of the yard . My hands strike , swipe , and tear using Nyx's power , and yet , for every blotch I destroy , two more rise in its place . My eyes close again , and when I open them , we're in the woods . Out of the keep's border . Suddenly , a gust of wind hits us , dismantling the shadows momentarily . I see movements from the corner of my eyes . Dark figures pour from the forest , but not blotches - real , people . Rowan ? Rowan . He moves like a phantom . His sword arcs , clean and true , slicing through the smoky blotches . Sparks flare where steel meets phantom , and the shadows hiss , retreating before him . He barks orders ; his rogues fan out , circling the yard but stopping just short of the boundary stones . Border law . They do not cross . " Hold the line ! " he shouts . Our eyes meet . For one heartbeat , the world goes silent . Nyx surges , full this time . My bones crack , skin stretches as I drop to all fours . The shift tears through me - pain and ecstasy in one motion . When I rise , silver fur gleams in the sun , dust swirling around my paws . ' Feral ,' Nyx whispers . ' Let even evil fear us . ' I launch at the nearest blotch , jaws snapping , claws ripping . Sparks blaze where my silver fur hits the black smoke . Another shadow wraps around Finn ; I tear at it , but it splits again , burning my muzzle , my hands , my heart . " Finn , run ! " Rowan's voice thunders . The boy stumbles toward the fence , but another shadow coils for him . I spin , growling , claws slashing - but I'm too slow . Pain tears through me as fire sears my arms . Then Rowan is there . He moves like a storm . Sword arcs , and the shadows part , shrieking , sizzle , retreating into nothing . One sweep clears Finn entirely , Rowan's arm shielding him as if he were treasure . When silence finally falls , only the wind stirs the sand over the scorched traces of smoke . Finn trembles , clutching his chest . I force myself back into human form , gasping , blood and soot streaking my neck . My knees hit the sand beside him . Rowan pulls out his cloak and wraps 2/4 21:37 Wed , Oct 15 Chapter 23 The King's Debt Finished it around my shoulder , covering my bare body . I clutch it tight around me , not caring about anything but my child . " It's all right , love . You're safe . Mama's here . " Rowan crouches opposite me , hand on Finn's back , applying pressure to the bruise the shadows had left . His forest green eyes flick to mine . " Shadows conjured using witchcraft . " " I know . " I swallow hard . His rogues remain beyond the boundary stones , disciplined , heads bowed , hands sheathed . Boots thunder from the main gate . Kade and his guards storm the yard , their swords drawn . " What in the Goddess's name- " His voice breaks when he sees Finn , wounded but breathing . Relief and rage knot in his eyes . Jax is beside him , his eyes widened in shock . Kade reaches us - then stops when he sees my state . His eyes flare with disbelief when he sees who is standing beside me . The Rogue King's shadow falls long across the ground . " Kade ," I manage , voice hoarse . " They came for Finn . " Rowan rises , expression unreadable . " I tracked them from the northern ridge . Phantoms , shadows . We intercepted what we could ." Kade's grip tightens on his sword . " You broke border law . " " I upheld it ," Rowan says , cold steel in his tone . " Not one of mine crossed until your heir bled . Border truce allows intervention under Luna sanction . " I lift my chin . " He's right . I called the sanction . " Fury and disbelief crack across Kade's face . Emris strains , scent clashing with Rowan's in the air . " You expect me to thank you ? " he demands . Rowan's lips curve faintly . " No. I expect you to keep your son alive ." Jax shifts , prepared to defend his Alpha at command , his jaw clenched just as tight . Finn whimpers . That sound ends the argument . Brin's apprentices rush to carry him to the infirmary . I follow , but Rowan's hand brushes my arm over the cloak - a fleeting touch , gone before Kade can react . " Watch your borders , Freya , " he murmurs . 3/4 21:37 Wed , Oct 15 sapter 23. The Kings Debt ཇི་ ་ , ) , Finished Then he turns , whistles once , and his rogues melt back into the forest like smoke . Silence settles . Kade exhales slowly , fury draining to exhaustion . He looks at me - then toward where Rowan disappeared . " He saved our son , " he says , voice rough . " He did , " I murmur . For a long moment , Kade says nothing . The wind tugs at his dark hair . " My father banished him , " he mutters . " And now I owe him a debt ." " You owe him Finn's life . You can never repay it ." His eyes snap to mine . " Do you think I don't know that ? " We stand amid scorched ground and smoke - stained ghosts of shadows . Kade's gaze flicks to the treeline , to where Rowan vanished . At last , he says to Jax : " Send word . The Rogue King of Nightfell will be received as a guest of Silvercrest - under treaty law ." Even Nyx stills , stunned . ' He invites the storm inside ,' she whispers . Maybe . But for once , I see no arrogance in Kade's eyes - only reluctant recognition that no longer bends solely to him . The King of Rogues saved the future Alpha of Silvercrest . And Kade Thorne , for the first time , owes a debt he can never repay . power And he may not know it , but by doing this , he has just ruined the High Council's plan of getting rid of Nightfell using Silvercrest . Send Gifts