#Chapter 201 – Alive Again

Damon The Councilors were speaking again. They were always speaking. Reports, figures, meaningless noise that slid over me without registering it. I stood at the window behind my chair – which Asher hadn’t managed to take yet – my fingers resting on the cold sill, watching snow drift down over the courtyard below. The banners of Stormfang hung limp, their colors dulled in the foggy weather. “…the eastern packs request aid, Your Majesty.” “…rebellion at the southern border.” “…Lord Asher recommends…” That last name cut through the static. I turned, slowly, until the room fell silent. “Lord Asher recommends what?” The nearest advisor swallowed hard. “He’s been… maintaining the council in your absence, Your Highness. Some of the Alphas have begun petitioning him directly. They fear the realm grows leaderless.” Leaderless. I almost laughed. A King who’s lost his Queen is worse than leaderless, he’s hollow. A decaying body wearing a crown because he doesn’t know how to li