Dinner was a tense affair.

I wish I could say it's clear whether our efforts at the summit are paying off, but the Alphas are playing their cards close to their chests—except Kieran. The Storm Forest Alpha spent the evening glaring at everyone, even his own men. I'm beginning to think we can't win him over and should focus elsewhere—on Alphas with whom we can form alliances. However, excluding him might increase his animosity.

I pondered my conversation with Sinclair, wondering if Kieran is betraying us. Has he told Damon that my mate is still alive? Is he planning to help Damon attempt another assassination? I didn't believe him to be stupid, though I don't think he cares about anyone beyond his pack, or perhaps even Vanara. Refusing to join forces is one thing; making a suicide pact with a madman—which is what joining Damon would be—is quite another.

Of course, I've been wrong before. Sinclair believes Kieran is hiding something, and his behavior is suspect. My mission tonight: persuade Kieran to come clean. I knew exactly how to do it.

I started with simple observation, knowing how uncomfortable persistent, unwanted attention can be for someone with a guilty conscience. I didn't hide the fact that I was watching him. Every time Kieran looked up and met my gaze, I stared with the same expression I use for misbehaving children: deliberate and dismayed. It conveyed: "I know what you've done, and I'm disappointed. Don't make things worse by lying."

I also sprinkled bait into conversations, which wasn't difficult given the delegates' desire to debrief about the day's excursion. "It was absolutely sickening," the Black Alder said beside me. "I've never seen so much pain." He looked at me with wide-eyed sincerity, eager for my perspective. They all were—being a child of the Goddess has its advantages.

"And to think the person inflicting that horror is supposed to protect them," I sighed, sadly shaking my head. "It's the worst kind of betrayal. What kind of Alpha would harm so many shifters, let alone those in his care?"

"But it wasn't only shifters!" the Silver Dawn Alpha interjected. "The human settlements were even worse."

I pretended this was news, though my pain and outrage were genuine. "This is why we must stop thinking of our peoples as separate. Damon doesn't care whom he hurts; if some of us suffer, we all do. If we only help shifters and leave humans behind, those settlements will only grow. People will see that we care only for our own kind—they'll see us prosper while they languish, and they'll hate us for it." I scanned the faces, diverting my attention from Kieran only long enough to make my point.

"When I first learned about shifters, Dominic explained that he doesn't lead because he wants to, but because his power is a grave responsibility—he has the strength to spare, so he's obligated to lend it to those in need. This is the same principle. Vanara has the power and strength that those fleeing the war, and everyone trapped under Damon's thumb, lack." Sinclair had one arm around my chair, his fingers tracing circles on my arm, encouraging me to continue.

"It's an incredible privilege to choose whether to enter this conflict. It would be easy to say it's not your problem, but if your life is easy and prosperous while the rest of the world wages war…" I trailed off, sounding forlorn. "I can't find any honor in that." I returned my focus to Kieran, pleased to see him listening intently. "And what good is an Alpha without honor? Without loyalty to a higher cause than his own self-interest?"

Kieran, who had been turning increasingly red, surged from the table. "Fine, damn you!" he burst, throwing down his napkin. His chair fell back with a clatter against the marble floor. A hush fell over the room. I was infinitely pleased this was a private dinner, not a public feast. Sinclair glared at Kieran, a deep growl rumbling in his chest.

I placed a steadying hand on Sinclair's leg, keeping my posture relaxed. "It's okay," I soothed. "I'd like to hear anything Alpha Kieran has to say… or confess."

Kieran narrowed his eyes, outrage radiating from him. "Oh, you're too clever for your own good," he grumbled—not a compliment.

"I've been told," I replied, smiling serenely.

Kieran shook his head, clenching his fists. "I wasn't going to share this," he began furiously, "but now I see I have no alternative." He was silent for almost half a minute. Finally, he said, "Yesterday, I returned to my rooms to find an anonymous electronic message with a video link and a note advising me to follow it if I cared about Vanara's future. Damon was on the other end."

The other Alphas muttered, and Kieran huffed in frustration. "I didn't announce this for precisely this reason. You're all already preparing to condemn me!"

I raised my hand, urging quiet. "No one is condemning you. Please tell us what happened."

Kieran scowled. "He offered me an alternative alliance," he explained fiercely, never taking his eyes off me. "He said he needed someone to ensure Sinclair's bloodline ended and that he could use ground support to thwart the humans and resistance fighters on the royal continent. He was confident that once these challenges were overcome, we would turn our attention to Sevka and Vanara."

The hush in the dining room was now voluntary, as many delegates gaped in surprise. "Dominic was right. Damon won't be satisfied with controlling one land; his appetite for power is infinite. He spoke of a worldwide empire and tried to bribe me by offering your crown, Gabriel." Kieran confessed, looking suddenly ill. "He said he would reward my loyalty by putting me in charge of Vanara—that this was the only way I would ever sit upon the throne."

We waited with bated breath. "I questioned his strategy. I thought he might reveal some of his plans to prove he could fulfill his promises. I wanted to know his vision of the future and how he would achieve it. He lashed out. He called me a coward and a… little bitch. He said I was as bad as a she-wolf, nagging and questioning his ability when he'd just offered me the world."

Kieran grew more irate with each word, his cheeks crimson. "He called me every insulting name he could think of and ended the meeting when I refused to commit. Then, this afternoon, my chief of staff called to inform me that I'd received an express package—apparently full of dresses, diapers, and self-help books on how to be a real man." I slapped my hand over my mouth to stifle a laugh. I glanced at Roger, whose lips were twitching.

"I know it was from Damon," Kieran announced angrily. "He's trying to bully me into betraying you all. But I will never join such a wolf." He looked at Sinclair, contrite. "I didn't reveal to him that you are still alive, Dominic. I didn't share any of the progress we've made here. I should have told you about the offer as soon as I received it. But after seeing those camps today, after learning just how dishonorable our enemy is… I've made my decision. My allegiance is yours."