Chapter 26

Ronan's POV

Elara Voss had been free for fourteen hours and had already reorganized my infirmary, insulted my grandfather, corrected Soren's translation of three ancient records, and informed me that my bloodline was an administrative disaster.

I understood immediately where Mara came from.

We returned to Black Hollow before sunrise. Maeve confined Elara to a bed. Elara ignored her. Maeve threatened sedation. Elara called her bluff. Maeve produced the syringe. Elara finally lay down.

"I like her," Mara whispered beside me.

"She terrifies me."

"Good instincts."

The moment should have felt easy. It did not.

Mara had heard that her fertility might return. I had watched hope and grief move acr