CHAPTER SIXTY TWO


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    CHAPTER SIXTY TWO


    Talia’s POV


    The training grounds were alive with movement and noise. Warriors ran drills in staggered lines. Shields thudded as they met practice strikes. I stood with Beta Logan at the edge with a clipboard in my hands and a roster clipped at the top. With the Hunting Rite approaching, we needed to tighten our security.


    Logan looked at the candidates sparring in the nearest ring. “We need speed and experienced trackers, not just muscle.”


    “I agree,” I said. I marked two names on the roster. “And they must be calm under pressure, so someone experienced.”


    Logan grunted approval. He nodded toward a dark-haired warrior weaving through a pair of opponents. “Kade, he’s a good prospect. He listens.”


    “Kade goes,” I said, circling his name. “I think Rhea would be a perfect match for him.”


    “Rhea?” Logan repeated.


    “She grew up near the marsh. She knows how to move quickly without making a sound,” I exined.


    Beta Logan smiled and I raised an eyebrow. “What?”


    “You’re doing well, Princess. I am happy you’re back,” Beta Logan replied.


    “Thank you, Beta Logan,” I said, blushing lightly. I cleared my throat before saying, “We need to make sure we have a few more. We can’t afford to not be too careful. The Hunting Rite brings in spectators and opportunists.”


    He nodded once. “Then pick four more, Princess.”


    We continued on like this for a few more minutes before we had settled on four more warriors. Logan took the roster, reviewed the names again, and handed it back. “That puts two full patrols on rotation and one reserve. This is good coverage. Anything else, Princess?”


    “Rotate them in twelve-hour shifts until the Rite begins,” I said. “We don’t want anyone exhausted. If anyone looks tired, I want them reced before they start making mistakes.”


    “As youmand,” he said. Then his gaze sharpened beyond my shoulder. “De.”


    I barely had time to turn before De rushed up, braid swinging, and the scent of clean linen trailing after her. She slowed when she saw her father, adjusted her shoulders, and tried for a dignified walk. Itsted for three steps.


    “Princess,” she said, beaming at me. “I came to steal you. We’re going shopping.”


    Logan frowned and he scolded, “You do not ‘steal’ the Princess from a security inspection. This is an important task that you will be taking over in the future.”


    De’s smile faltered. “I know, but my….”


    “It’s fine,” I said, turning to Beta Logan. “We’ve chosen enough people for today.” I handed the clipboard to Logan. “Have the captains brief them and assign them to their areas. I want the shifts posted by nightfall.”


    Logan epted with a short nod. “Consider it done.” He turned to De, stern again. “I agreed to your birthday party, but you will not turn it into a spectacle. No fights. No staging pranks. No dragging the kitchen staff intost -minute requests.”


    CHAPTER SIXTY WO


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    De pouted and said, “I won’t cause trouble, father, I promise.”


    “Do not worry, Beta Logan. I’ll make sure she keeps her word,” I said before leading De away.


    “When is your birthday?” I asked.


    She blinked. “Are you joking? It’s next Wednesday.”


    Guilt tugged at me. I had been so deep in preparations, meetings, and border reports that I hadpletely forgotten her birthday. “I should have remembered,” I said quietly.


    De waved it off, but her eyes softened. “You’re doing Princess work. I’m not mad. I just wanted to pull you away for an hour. You need new clothes. The shops will reserve pieces if you go in person.”


    “What do you want for your birthday?” I asked.


    Her grin returned. “Whatever you think. You always know what I like.”


    We started toward the exit path that cut between the archery yard and the equipment storehouse.


    “We need a formal dress for you,” De said, thinking out loud as we walked. “Something light with a hidden inner pocket for your dagger. And a day dress that doesn’t have a thousand buttons.”


    “No feathers, no sequins, and no colors that make me look like a g,” Iughed.


    “You always say that,” she sighed. “One day I’m going to get you to try blue,”


    “There are other colors to choose from,” I said. “Purple, pink, orange, green…pick from those and I’ll try them on.”


    De rolled her eyes, but she was grinning with excitement. “Fine. I’ll be reasonable. For my birthday, you can at least try one dress I pick without arguing.”


    “Deal,” I smiled.


    We rounded the corner, and I stopped short. Jason and Henry stood near the gate that opened toward the trainingnes. They began walking over to us.


    “Talia, De,” Henry greeted.


    “Hello Beta Henry,” I said with a smile as Henry had always been nice to me. My smile disappeared when I focused on Jason. “Alpha Jason.”


    Jason stepped forward to reach for my wrist. De moved at once, stepping in front of me. “What do you want?” she demanded. Her Beta aura ring.


    Jason gestured to the yard and Beta Logan behind us. “I came to watch the warrior training and happened to run into you. I wanted to offer an apology for what happened between us recently.”


    My wolf stirred at the sound of his voice and began growling within me. ‘Keep him at a distance. He is not to be trusted.’


    “Your apology is noted.” I turned to the nearest Silverfang warrior posted along the path. “Escort Alpha Jason. Make sure he has a clear view of the drills and nothing more.”


    “Yes, ma’am,” the warrior said. He stepped forward, gesturing toward the sparring rings. “This way, Alpha.”


    I shifted to go with De, but Jason’s voice cut in again. “Talia, wait.”


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    1 stopped. De took a half step back toward me, ready to nt herself between us again.


    “What?” she snapped. “What do you want now?


    Jason kept the polite tone, but his jaw was tight. “I’d like a word. It won’t take long.”


    Henry said nothing. He said with his eyes that he would see everything. De crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head.


    “No. You don’t get private words anymore. You don’t get anything. Not after how you treated Talia,” De stated.


    “De,” I said quietly. “It’s fine.” 2)


    I nced at Logan. He gave a short nod and shifted his stance so that anyone approaching from the yard would have to pass him first. De stood side by side with Henry.


    “I’ll be right here if he tries anything,” De said.


    “There’s no need for that. I just want to talk,” Jason stated.


    “Sure,” De responded with an eye roll.


    I stepped three feet aside with Jason. I wasn’t far. I was still within sight of Logan’s steady stare and the warrior escort who had not yet moved.


    “What do you want to say?”


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