Chapter 19

Mara's POV

Severin Vane entered the Winter Oath Hall as if it were his.

That was impressive considering half the west wall still smelled like smoke from Darius's fire.

He was older than Gideon by more than twenty years, with silver at his temples and the calm face powerful men cultivate when others are expected to panic for them. I saw the resemblance only after Soren had told me where to look. The same mouth. The same narrow line between the brows when something displeased him.

Gideon walked two steps behind him.

He didn't know. That made the resemblance feel obscene.

Ironwood wolves filled the smoke-stained hall. Nobody had been commanded to attend. That was important. Ronan stood on my right with Tamsin behind him. Lucien stood on my left because ap