Leila’s POV
I woke before dawn, the torchlight in my chamber was low, flickering orange against the silken curtains, and I paused at the edge of the bed, taking a steadying breath. Sebastian’s footsteps echoed in the corridor beyond my door, he would expect me dressed and ready for morning tea. As always, I would move like a marionette, every gesture scripted: loyal, broken, dependent. Inside, though, my mind was a sharpened blade, honed for the moment I could strike free and stand with my true pack. I would play along with Sebastian’s game, but every fiber of my being was ready for the real one.
I padded barefoot along the corridor to Sebastian’s solar. Two of his captains stood guard at the door. Mael and Osanna are both stiff-faced and alert. I bowed deeply, voice soft. “Good morning
