Book 5: Ceremonial

Ingrid

“I still can’t find him,” Joli whispers as she hands me a clump of nauseatingly sweet wildflowers I’m apparently supposed to hold during this shitshow.

“Of course you can’t.” The stems groan, threatening to snap in my hands. “He’s gone.”

The doors to the temple swing open, and I step inside to a swell of music that’s supposed to sound triumphant. I know because Kaloni made sure to tell me that with the same little smile she’s wearing right now, standing at the altar beside Halit. Apparently, that’s the traditional place for the Alpha and Luna during a royal wedding.

What I wouldn’t fucking give to make her show me where she’s finding all these convenient old traditions.

Every eye in the temple turns toward me—every single one, that is, except Cirocco’s. He stands on Halit’s ot