"Absolutely not."
Rowan’s voice shook the dust from the heavy wooden rafters of the great hall. He paced the length of the war table, his boots striking the stone floor with lethal force. His eyes were completely gold, his wolf thrashing violently against the idea of taking his mate into a volatile diplomatic standoff.
"I will not parade you in front of Kaelen like a prize to be inspected," Rowan snarled, turning to Aria. "He is a ruthless, cynical bastard. He just wants to see if the rumors of your broken bond are true, to see if Nightfall has a weak link. I will go to the border alone. If he doesn't like it, my army will tear Ironridge apart before they even reach the southern pass."
Jarek and the other guards stood entirely still, recognizing the dangerous, protective rage of their A
