The high-backed throne, the open hall, the leather gloves, the mask upon my face, they were comfortingly familiar. But what delighted me most of all was the legion of lycans swarming the room below. They practically climbed over one another in their eagerness as they dragged the men and women of the council through my doors. In my head, I heard the yips and barks of a returning hunting party.

"Good morning honorable council people of Preene," I greeted, standing up and throwing my arms out in a dramatic gesture, "Welcome to my new court."

They huddled together like herded sheep. I could see their shaking from my throne. Several were bruised and bleeding, doubtlessly where they foolishly struggled against my lycans. A quick head count revealed there to be only eleven, where I knew there to be a dozen members total. I didn't need to question where the twelfth was though. My horde left little chance for escape.

One of the council women was plucking up enough courage to speak; I could tell by the trembling about her lips. "Where... where's King Darrius?"

"Darrius?" My chest tightened, but I spoke as though it were the most casual thing in the world. I had plenty of practice acting, after all. "Darrius Darrius... Ah, you see, I killed him. Shortly after consummating our marriage."

A collective gasp. I smirked, falling back on my throne and throwing my legs up over the armrest.

"You really shouldn't have been so eager to marry him off. Then maybe he wouldn't have rushed into such a... destructive relationship." I gave a small laugh. "Anyway, I brought you all here for a renewal of vows of sorts. Yesterday you swore your loyalty to me as Queen. I just wanted to make sure you would stand by those vows."

"You think we will acknowledge you as leader of Preene after you murdered its king?" one of the men shouted out.

I hissed, both at his heated glare and the twisting of the shard of ice in my heart. "You really should think before you speak. I am legally your queen. Care to rephrase your complaint?"

His wrinkled hands balled into fists. "No."

I frowned. "River?"

The gray female pounced from her position in the pack, tackling the man. He only got a chance to let out a short scream before he was covered in a feeding frenzy of starved lycans.

I gave a small shrug, turning back to the remaining members of the council. "You really should have had a law about feeding them properly. Anyone else object to my authority?"

None of them so much as whispered a protest.

"Good," I purred. "Now, there are some new laws I wish to instate. You'd better write this down." I waited for a couple of them to pull notepads and pens from their pockets. The utensils shook as they were held raised above the paper. "As of the end of today, keeping any lycan captive in any manner is illegal. Separating a mother from her cubs is illegal. Cutting their vocal chords or altering their natural form in any way is illegal. Forcing them to do anything against their will is illegal. They are to be treated with equal rights and respect as humans."

"Then what's to keep them from attacking humans?" The same woman that had asked about Darrius spoke up.

I raised my eyebrows. "What laws were in place to keep humans from abusing them?"

The woman was silent. She swallowed as her gaze dropped to the floor. "I assume you wish to ban the fights as well?" The hall's vaulted ceiling amplified her whisper.

"Oh no no no," I leaned forward on my throne, "Don't you go putting words in my mouth. If you knew anything at all about the lycans, you would know they love a good brawl. The fights will go on with some amendments, one of which being, anyone caught breaking any of these new laws must participate... as a competitor."

If there was any color left among the council, it was soon gone. I knew many of them were former trainers or managers, some still bred. I wondered how many would survive the night after they let their prisoners free.

"Any questi-" I paused, looking over the court's heads to the commotion that appeared in the doorway. A group of lycans were dragging in a human man. His face was difficult to make out from my position, though I supposed he was the last council member or a disobedient servant. The man brought to my feet was neither.

"What are you doing here?" I hissed through clenched teeth. As if I wasn't having a hard enough time dealing with rogue emotions, he had to show up to remind me there were still some stones sitting in my stomach.

Pale blue eyes flicked up to meet mine. Cyrus Khale stood up, gaze unwavering despite the blood running down the sleeve of his jacket. One of the lycans had given him a nasty bite. "Call it foolish lust or stupid curiosity. Either way, I wanted to see Preene's new queen. I was concerned, but it seems I shouldn't have worried."

I frowned, fighting the inner turmoil his presence brought. This was just like when Brennon came back, possibly worse. "I don't believe you," I stated in a carefully controlled voice.

"Well, it's the truth."

"You wanted to capture me, to ruin my plans, to ruin this!" I snapped, gesturing to the lycans around me. Some of them barred their teeth in silent snarls. "You know why I had to do it!" I didn't know why I was defending myself, why I bothered offering justification when he didn't ask for it. I was trying to keep my self control, to continue on with my calm display, but his presence was eroding it away as easily as water through sand.

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"For the good of Preene, it would have been better if you hadn't become queen," he stated in a cool tone. Why wasn't he being as overly expressive as he had always been before? Why was he hiding behind an icy wall? Or did he really not care anymore? "But at the time, I only wanted you to turn yourself in before you were discovered."

"What's that supposed to matter?"

It wasn't Cyrus that answered, but one of the council members. Her arms wrapped around herself as she stared down at the floor. "As a foreigner, I wouldn't expect you to know, Your Majesty. But in Preene, criminals who turn themselves in are exempt from the death sentence, no matter how atrocious their crime."

My eyes darted from him to her and back until he spoke. "Listen, I know you won't understand, but I always knew you were suffering through... something." He stared straight at me, though his expression gave away none of his thoughts. "You have secrets beyond what you told me. I could see it every time you looked at fire, or a lycan, or held a whip. I know a tortured soul when I see one, and so, for me, it didn't matter what you'd done. I didn't want you to die for it."

Death. Was it better than life as a prisoner? I thought so. But perhaps Cyrus didn't. Maybe he really was trying to help me. He might have truly wanted to spare my life.

Or more likely, he wanted to save himself.

"I don't believe you."

His blank expression didn't waver. "I don't believe that."

"Well, it doesn't matter what you believe!" I shouted.

"Desire..."

"No!" I jumped back, slapping his hand away where he reached to touch the exposed part of my face. "Never-! Don't you dare touch me!"

Just for one second, his facade broke. In that instant I could see him, the real Cyrus, the one with upturned eyes and a slack jaw. But he was gone as soon as he had come, and that foolishly puppy-like expression melded back into a hard mask.

"Well, if you're going to have me killed, it'd be better sooner than later."

I bared my teeth, ready to snap the order. Yet, my throat closed around the words. Was I going to kill him? Did I really want him dead?

He was just like Brennon though, promising me forgiveness, whispering sweet things in my ear. He was doing the same thing. Abandoning me, then acting as though it was for my own good. If anything, he was worse. I had known Brennon roughly two weeks. I had been with Cyrus for months. Brennon had kissed me, while Cyrus and I had gotten much closer than that.

But it was hard to spoil that night with bitter reality. His whispered confession he doubted the morals of lycan fighting rang through my mind. I couldn't convince myself it had been a lie.

All those stupid, open-mouthed smiles, slack jawed expressions, wide eyes and happy grins, had they all been fake? Could I discredit how he had first guided me through Cicil, or how cold my wrist felt when he let go? What about all those animated conversations? I hadn't thought much of them at the time, but I missed them now. To say they had all been with the purpose of deceit was like swallowing acid.

On my end, it had been real. As foolish and naïve as it was to fall for all the same tricks, I had.

Only now did I realize how little I knew of him. All I knew of his past was that he was raised in the capital. All I knew was that he went fishing when he didn't have money for food and worked as a laborer while he looked for a trainer. I knew he was good at starting a fire and thought it important a manager matched their trainer's style. I knew he was always prepared and good at budgeting money. He picked the best inns. He swung his fork around in that ridiculous manner. He talked with his mouth full.

He looked genuinely panicked when I fell in the arena.

Maybe he started hating me when he found me that night...

My words still wouldn't come out. I tried to force them, but choked on my own tongue. The blankness of Darrius's face was reflected on his. I buried my face in my hands, trying to block out the image. The icicle jabbed in my heart twisted and pulled. I didn't think I could handle that again. These council members meant nothing to me, but to lose to Cyrus, to know it was me who passed his sentence, I may just shatter in a million pieces.

He was just like Brennon, and I still didn't have the strength.

"Cerberus..." I gasped, then whispered, "Alpha. You... you choose."

The albino lycan paced forward, stepping between me and the man. He rose up, towering over him. I braced myself for the screams. Cerberus wouldn't make it quick. He knew the importance of an audience, he would make an example out of him. Lying to the queen, more importantly, the Lady of the Lycan Mountains, wouldn't be tolerated. Deceit and treason would be punished to the highest degree. The massive alpha locked gazes with the man, a clash of fire red and storm blue.

Cerberus opened his jaws, displaying his yellowed teeth. My insides knotted. It was about to begin.

"I let him live."

My heart stopped. A wave swept through my brain, washing it clear of thoughts. Only one remained, a single word that burned on the back of my tongue. But I couldn't utter it, not yet.

Back to character, back to calm and collected. Back to my role as the ruthless tyrant.

"Very well then." My voice cracked. It wasn't very well, not at all. "But I still won't let you wander free. From now on you are to stay by Crimson Claw's side until I state otherwise. Is that understood?"

Cyrus nodded, though his eyes didn't leave Cerberus. My chest felt like it was about to explode, I couldn't let everyone witness it when it did.

"Out," I barked, "The council must spread word of the new laws. I don't care about everyone else, just get out."

It was remarkable how quickly my orders were followed. In less than a minute, most lycans cleared the room. I stared out the door into the hallway. I didn't miss Cyrus being herded out by the chocolate male I assigned him to, nor did I miss that quick, stolen glance back.

Only Cerberus remained. He was never required to follow orders, anyway. As alpha of the pack, he answered only when he chose.

I finally was able to spit out the burning, acidic word, "Why?"

The albino lycan met my stare with the utmost sincerity. "That man risked his life to save you once. He still has the same look in his eye."