Albert had guarded Kael's life since they were young.
He had stood beside him during battles, challenged him when anger clouded his judgment, and helped rebuild Blackmoon after war nearly destroyed it.
But inside the Alpha's hall, he sat like a stranger.
Two warriors stood behind him.
Kael placed both hands on the table. "Show me the letter."
Albert said nothing.
"Your silence is beginning to look like betrayal."
"I have never betrayed you."
"You hid evidence."
"I protected my family."
"Laura attacked mine."
Albert looked at Lyra. Shame flickered across his face.
"I don't know that."
Sarah slammed her palm against the table. "Her tunnel led outside our wards. She had maps of our patrols!"
"And the message was written in my mother's blood."
The anger left Sarah's expression.
Albert slowly unfolded the paper.
"If I do not bring a map of Blackmoon's inner defenses to an abandoned shrine before midnight, they will kill her."
