The rescue party entered Blackthorn through abandoned mining tunnels from Mara's childhood. They found her sister alive—and a chamber containing portraits of every Luna Rowan's family had erased from pack history.
Mara's mother was among them. The inscription beneath her portrait named her true heir to Nightfall, not Blackthorn. Kieran realized the border war had been built on a stolen succession.
Rowan sealed the tunnel exits and flooded the chamber with wolfsbane smoke. Through the haze, he offered Mara a final bargain: complete their mating bond and he would let Kieran breathe.
Kieran collapsed beside her. Mara reached for the ceremonial blade, but the voice that answered Rowan came from inside the wall.
Her mother was still alive.