THE SCENT OF TREASON

The Blood Court

The sound of the pack howling did not stop. It echoed through the stone walls of the fortress, a vibrating chorus of anger and challenge that made the air itself feel heavy. Lily had curled up on the bed, burying her face in the pillows to drown out the noise, but I could not turn away from the window.

I watched the courtyard below. Shifter guards in black uniforms were moving in tight, tense formations, their postures stiff as they kept watch over the perimeter. They knew the pack was on the verge of fracturing. Silas had been their general, a revered traditionalist who promised to keep the bloodlines pure. By putting Silas in chains for a human, Kaelen had not just punished a traitor; he had insulted their entire way of life.

The heavy bedroom doors groaned open again. I spun around, expecting Kaelen, but instead, a female shifter stepped into the room. She was tall, with sharp features and short cropped silver hair. She carried a heavy wooden tray loaded with hot soup, fresh bread, and fruit.

"The King ordered food for you and the girl," she said, her voice entirely devoid of warmth. She set the tray down on a small table near the hearth without looking at me.

"Thank you," I said, stepping toward her. "What is happening down there? The howling... it sounds like a war is starting inside the house."

The woman paused, her icy blue eyes snapping up to meet mine. "The King is standing before the elders alone. Silas has demanded a trial by combat to prove that Kaelen has been blinded by a human curse. Half the vanguard is ready to back him." She stepped closer, her nostrils flaring as she caught my scent. "You smell like him. His mark is all over your soul. But to us, you just smell like a liability."

"I never asked for this," I replied, holding her gaze, refusing to flinch. "I was a cleaner. I found a body, and now my sister and I are trapped in the middle of your politics."

"Then pray the King wins the council over," she snapped, turning toward the exit. "Because if Kaelen falls today, the next Alpha will not keep you as a guest. Silas will have your head on a spike before the sun sets."

She strode out, leaving the room cold in her wake.

Lily sat up, her eyes wide with terror. "Nalia, we have to get out of here. If they are fighting over us, we need to run while they are distracted."

"There is nowhere to go, Lily," I said, walking over to press a hand against her trembling shoulder. "The estate is surrounded by miles of forest, and the city is full of remaining witches who want revenge. If we leave this room, we die. Our only chance is Kaelen."

The hours dragged on like a slow t*****e. The howling eventually died down, replaced by an eerie, suffocating silence that felt far more dangerous than the noise. I paced the floor, my boots clicking against the stone, counting every heartbeat.

It was late afternoon when the heavy footsteps finally returned.

Kaelen walked into the bedroom. His shirt was gone, replaced by a dark tunic, and his hands were stained with fresh, crimson blood. My breath hitched in my throat as I rushed to him, my hands automatically reaching out to check his chest and arms for wounds.

"Are you hurt?" I demanded, my voice cracking with an emotion I could no longer hide.

Kaelen caught my hands in his massive, b****y palms, halting my frantic movements. His grip was firm, grounding me instantly. His gray eyes were dark, shadowed with grim satisfaction.

"It is not my blood," Kaelen said, his deep voice carrying a gravelly edge of exhaustion. "The elders demanded blood to wash away the insult of Silas's betrayal. I gave it to them."

"Is Silas dead?" I whispered.

"No. He remains in the dungeons, stripped of his rank and his title," Kaelen replied, pulling me closer until my chest pressed against his. "Two of the elders challenged my right to rule with a human mate. I broke them in the center of the ring. The rest of the pack fell in line."

He leaned down, pressing his forehead against mine. His breath was hot, smelling faintly of copper and woodsmoke. "The pack belongs to me, Nalia. Completely. No one will dare touch you or your sister now."

I looked into his eyes, seeing the ruthless king who had just bled to keep me. The danger from the pack was gone for now, but as I looked at the fresh stains on his hands, I realized the price of my safety was written in blood.

I squeezed his hands, feeling the heat of his skin beneath the drying crimson. "They will never stop looking for a weakness, Kaelen," I whispered, the weight of the crown suddenly pressing down on both of our shoulders.

He pulled me tighter against him, his voice a low, fierce promise in the shadows of the room. "Let them look; they will only find a grave."