Chapter 1

The Guardian Clan's Alpha Lord was choosing a mate for his heir — and he did it the old way.

Two vials of essence were placed on the ceremonial stone table.

One was clear and cool as moonlight, crisp, clean, carrying the faint trace of winter herbs.

The other was warm and honeyed, thick with sweetness that clung to the air like nectar.

I stood behind the woven partition with my half-sister, watching through the latticed screen as Kael Dawnfang hesitated. His nostrils flared. His jaw tightened. Then, after a long, agonizing moment, he reached out and lifted the moonlit vial.

My half-sister, Flora, let out a soft, triumphant laugh beside my ear. "Sister," she whispered, "you've lost. Kael chose me."

Kael had known all along. He knew I was the one who had distilled the cool, silver essence — the moonlit vial was mine. Flora's was the honeyed one.

And yet he hadn't chosen it.

"If I don't choose Flora," Kael murmured quietly to himself, just loud enough for me to catch through the partition, "she'll reach the age of the Moon Decree. She'll be force-bonded to whoever the Lunar Tribunal assigns. She's lowborn — half-blooded. Who in the high clans would ever be paired with her?"

"Once she passes the decree deadline, I'll dissolve the promise and come for you properly."

But he had forgotten.

I was Flora's elder sister. I was older than her.

If I had no bond-promise in place, in three days' time, I would be sent to the Crown Wolf's palace — to serve as the mate of the Wolf Prince, who lay dying of the Moon Sickness.

To be his anchor. His cure. His sacrifice.

...

I watched Kael's fingers trail across the edge of the honeyed vial before lifting the moonlit one.

Something inside me went quiet — the way a fire goes quiet when there is nothing left to burn.

Flora pressed close to my ear, victorious and shameless. "Sister, the heir chose me."

"Don't be sad, Sister. He must only pity me. His heart has always belonged to you."

At the front of the hall, my father — Alpha Lord Wren Silverstone, head of the Guardian Clan — watched Kael's choice with a face that went pale as ash. He turned to look at me.

He had been so certain this was settled. How had it gone wrong?

The hall was full of clan nobility who had all understood why today's gathering had been called: the Guardian Clan's firstborn daughter was choosing her mate.

Now they surged forward to offer congratulations, voices bright with false warmth.

"Alpha Lord Silverstone, what a blessing — Heir Dawnfang is a fine choice indeed!"

"The Dawnfang Heir with the Guardian Clan's pure-blooded daughter — a perfect bond!"

My father's expression hardened.

He looked at Kael directly. "You have chosen Flora — the half-blooded daughter of my household. Are you certain of this, Heir Dawnfang?"

The gazes around me shifted. Pity replaced admiration.

Everyone had assumed Kael had chosen me.

No one had expected him to choose Flora.

"Lyra Silverstone — how pitiful. Her own half-sister stole her bond-match."

"Surely not. She has waited for the heir so long. If her promise falls through, won't she fall under the Moon Decree?"

Kael crossed the room toward Flora, took her hand, and stepped forward. "Alpha Lord Silverstone," he said, his voice warm and steady. "I am drawn to Flora. I wish to bond with her as my mate."

The whispers swarmed around me like insects.

Flora was immediately surrounded by a flock of highborn girls offering congratulations. She was the future mate of a Clan Heir — of course they would fawn over her now.

Kael slipped away from the crowd and found me in the corner. His voice dropped low, coaxing, like he was soothing something he had already broken. "All right, Lyra. Don't be angry. It's just a performance. A delay."

"Flora was crying all last night. If I don't choose her, she'll be swept up by the Decree. She's low-ranked — who would the Tribunal pair her with? Someone unworthy."

"Trust me. Once she's past the Decree window, I'll find a way to dissolve the bond with her and bring you into my home properly. I swear it."

I tightened my fist at my side. I looked at him steadily.

"Heir Dawnfang," I said, very quietly. "I am Flora's elder sister. Did you think, even once — if our bond-promise falls through today, I will reach the Decree before Flora does. I am older."

"Are you not concerned that I will be force-bonded?"

Kael blinked.

He had forgotten entirely. I was the elder. I would trigger the Moon Decree before Flora.

Flora drifted over then, her lashes low, her voice a trembling thread. "Sister, please don't be angry with the heir. Flora was just so frightened. I only wanted him to help me this once."

"You're pure-blooded. You'll never understand how invisible a half-blood feels. No high clan would ever look at me. I have lived my whole life in your shadow, Sister."

"You've always been the jewel of Ashfen — and you have the Moonguard Clan behind you through our grandfather. You shine in everything. How could the Decree ever touch you?"

"Father and Grandfather will find a way around it for you. You'll be fine."

"Please, Sister. Give me the heir. Just this once. Let him help me."