Damon POV
I smelled her before I saw the blood. - That was the first c***k in the dam.
The second came when I rounded the longhouse and found Riven half-running toward me, eyes wide, jaw tight.
“She’s gone.”
I froze. “What?”
“Rayna. Maddox took her.” He panted. “Couple of the newer rogues helped him. Said she was a threat. That she’d bring the Wild down on us.”
My vision narrowed. Just Riven. Just the fire behind him. Just the roaring in my ears.
“When?” My voice was low, deadly.
“This night. After the council meeting. He was drunk, raving. Kael found the scent trail - it leads north, toward the ruins.”
The ruins.
I knew what was buried there. And I knew what would wake if blood hit that altar.
“I’ll kill him,” I said. Calm. Certain.
Riven reached out to stop me. I was already
