Chapter 33 Sage Cold stone seeps through my thin dress , but I can't stop shivering . The chains Eris insisted upon are too familiar - the same way Cassius bound me before ... before ... I squeeze my eyes shut , trying to block the memories . Different dungeon . Different pack . Same lesson : I'll never be more than something to be caged . Footsteps echo on stone . The click of expensive heels , unhurried . Confident . " Comfortable ? " Eris's voice drips false concern . " I do apologize for the accommodations , but thieves can't be choosers . " " We both know I didn't steal anything . " My voice sounds smaller than I want it to . She examines her perfect manicured nails in the dim light . " Do we ? The evidence seems quite clear . A silver candlestick from the royal vault , found in your possession . Really , what would your parents think ? " Her smile curves like a blade . " Oh wait , you don't know who they were , do you ? Perhaps they were thieves too . " I curl tighter into myself , the chains clinking . " Why are you doing this ? " " Because you don't know your place . " All pretense of kindness vanishes . " You actually thought you could belong here . A wolfless nothing , presuming to catch the eye of the Lycan King himself . " She laughs , the sound echoing off stone walls . " Did you think he cared for you ? That all those little moments meant something ? " Each word strikes like physical blows. I think of Alaric's gentle " sweetling ," his hands correcting my stance during training , his rare smiles that felt like secrets shared . " He was being kind , " I whisper . " That's all . " " Oh , darling . " Eris crouches down , her designer dress brushing dungeon dirt . " He was being political . Taking in Cassius's cast - off ? Such a noble gesture . Making Blackthorn look cruel while building his own reputation for mercy . " Her voice turns confidential . " But political gestures outlive their usefulness . Surely you've noticed his growing impatience ? Those conversations about ' liabilities ' and ' difficult decisions '? " My heart clenches . The overheard words that sent me running take on new meaning with her explanation . " Did you really think , " she continues , " that the Lycan King would choose a broken omega over the alliances I bring ? The political advantages ? The pure bloodlines ? " She straightens , brushing invisible dirt from her skirt . " I almost feel sorry for you . Almost . " " You planted the candlestick . " The realization comes slowly . " You arranged for me to overhear those conversations . " " Very good ! " She claps mockingly . " Though to be fair , you made it so easy . So ready to believe the worst , to run away at the first sign of rejection . " Tears burn behind my eyes but I won't let them fall . Won't give her the satisfaction . " When I'm Luna , " she says dreamily , " the first thing I'll do is cleanse the pack of ... unnecessary elements . The weak , the broken , the strays . " Her eyes glitter . " You'll be sent so far away even your pathetic attempts at healing won't be remembered . Alaric will forget your name within a moon's turn . " Something snaps inside me . " If you're so confident in your position , why go to all this trouble ? " Chapter 33 +25 BONUS Her perfect mask slips for just a moment , showing something ugly beneath . " Because you made him smile , " she hisses . " Because he watches you when he thinks no one sees . Because you're a threat I won't allow to grow . " " He'll know I didn't steal anything , " I say , stronger now . " He'll figure out what you did . " " Will he ? " Her musical laugh returns . " The same way he knew about you and Cassius ? The same way he's known about so many things ? Face it , dear - Alaric sees what he wants to see . And right now , all he sees is the perfect political alliance I represent . " Power floods the dungeon before she can continue - familiar pine and winter wind scent charged with fury . " That's enough . " Alaric's voice cuts through the darkness like a blade . I press further into my corner as the scene unfolds - Eris's practiced innocence , Alaric's commanding presence , the guards scrambling to obey . When Garrett leads her away , her mask finally cracks completely . " You're making a mistake ! " she shrieks . " She'll destroy everything we've built ! " BIG SALE : 3500 BONUS FREE FOR YOU !