"Sir, we don't have enough moon-coins for that."
"How can the Crown Alpha's territory not have enough!"
Edric Duskborne's brows drew together like a blade.
"Sir, the vault has always been managed by the consort. Everything was under his control."
"Ha."
Edric's expression shifted to one of grim understanding:
"The entire territory's wealth was in the hands of someone as base as Ashton? Ashton, you've treated the Crown Alpha like she doesn't exist!"
"Guards."
Rowena's voice was ice:
"Hand over the consort's vault keys to Edric Duskborne."
I stared at her.
I had thought this was a passing whim. I hadn't imagined she truly intended to give my brother everything I had built.
The gold and moon-coins I had earned for this territory over the past year filled the vault floor to ceiling.
The moment the doors swung open, the blinding glare of gold forced Edric back two steps.
Something flickered in his eyes. My wolf stirred, low and wary, pressing against the inside of my ribs. It had caught what I caught — that flash of hunger beneath the performance.
He smothered it quickly, replacing it with disgust: