Swiftcurrent Creek But in a much more real sense, I had no idea what to do.

Of what Akavir imagined his daughter would inform him of her life, it hadn’t been this—he was both pleased and surprised to know she remained at Brecheliant… Yet not without a stab of guilt. Perhaps, had he faced his fear of the pack he would have at least stopped in to see how Maia was doing. And their reunion could have been much sooner than in these circumstances.

But… His little Lilitu had also been whisked away by a prince, and had become a princess. As if life were a fairytale—and the ice that gripped him in that moment stirred him to recall the days of the Empire… Ibis, too, had been what they had deemed royalty there—Lilitu, in many ways a princess by birth right in many regards.

Yet, could not everyone begin a pack and legacy, claiming themselves a king or queen among all?

He was silent a moment—and then—carefully: “Where is your prince?” Title be damned—should the man who had the privilege to wed his daughter not be here, by her side?