The ride to the alleyway where I’d found the sigil didn’t take long. Devon held me in his arms for the whole ride, as if I might disappear if he let go. Not that I minded. I was seated on his lap, my arms loosely draped over his shoulders.

Every time I was thinking about what he told me about the other Supreme Successors, Devon stroked my lower back or murmured something to get my attention. It was crazy how easily he could distract me.

But I couldn’t shake the questions that lingered at the back of my mind. How come the Irvling house didn’t do something about Loreleia and those responsible for executing Gaia’s chosen? For crimes as heinous as these, don’t the great houses suffer any repercussions? Then again, if there wasn’t enough proof, and Loreleia alone could invoke the test of prudence, holding her accountable would be nearly impossible.

As the carriage slowed, I was pulled out of my chaotic thoughts. His arm tightened a little around me, as if he could sense my anxiety.

“We’re here,” he whispered softly, and his breath warmed my ear.

Nodding, I slipped off his lap, smoothing my skirt and trying to collect myself. I stared at him for a moment before I climbed out.

The alley was quieter than I remembered, but the bustle of the market just beyond reminded me how close this chaos was to everyday life. The bureau inspectors had already set up a magical barrier to keep citizens out. My eyes wandered to the building where the sigil had been, and I noticed the same scorch marks as the one we just left.

“Where is it?” Devon asked.

I pointed to it. “There. But it’s destroyed, like the one we just left.” I moved closer, crinkling my brow as I looked at the debris. I noticed traces of my water magic around it.

“In a way, it’s still here,” I murmured, inspecting the traces left behind. The script pulsed weakly, like the last embers of a fire. “I don’t know why, but the energy is weak, probably because one is broken.”

In an instant, Devon was beside me, his massive build creating a shadow over me. “Residual magic,” he said with a scowl. “It can happen when a chain of sigils gets disrupted. The others might fade on their own or’”

“Or reactivate,” I finished for him.

“Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen.” He held out a hand, and I took it, letting him pull me up and into his arms. “You could use me again like you did before to destroy this one.”

Playing with the lapels of his coat, I arched my brow. “That’s not reckless now, is it?”

He almost smiled. “That’s because you won’t be doing it alone. If including me even slightly reduces your burden, I’m in.”

I took a deep breath and smiled. “Thanks,” I said.

“It’s the least I can do,” he said, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “The last thing I want is for my mate to get hurt in front of me. Better to use me recklessly, don’t you think?”

I chuckled and slipped away from him. “That’s a good policy,” I replied. “Better to be safe than sorry.” With a huff, I looked around. “But why this spot?” I asked, wiping the dust off my gloves. “Why would they plant a sigil here, of all places?”

“The square is a hub for magical traffic. If they’d activated it, the damage would’ve spread fast. Wridel thrives on Ostonia’s elemental trade. Disrupt that, and you disrupt everything.”

I bit my lip, looking back at the scorch marks. “Whoever’s behind this knows exactly what they’re doing.”

“And they’re not done,” he said grimly, almost as if he had a prime suspect he didn’t want to disclose.

Before I could question him, the sound of rolling wheels caught our attention. Through the barrier, a convoy of stately carriages entered the alley. There was no missing the elaborate silver branches of the Irving House on their doors.

I looked at Devon as I remembered he wasn’t the only high Lord in the Irving house. He had brothers, stepbrothers, and cousins who made up the very large and scary Irving clan. Strange that I hadn’t met any of them, even though I was the Alpha’s mate. Did he not want me to meet them?

His eyes were on me like he could hear what I was thinking. Observing him suspiciously, I wondered if he could really hear them and just felt them?

Devon straightened up as the carriage came to a halt in front of us, his shoulders squared in that effortless, commanding way. As his grey eyes flickered back to me, he said, “You’re about to meet some of my brothers. Brace yourself.”

I raised an eyebrow. “That’s ominous. Why haven’t I met them before?”

He didn’t answer right away, and that made me squint even harder at him. Was it deliberate? Was he avoiding it?

“I wanted you to ease into the chaos that is my family,” he said finally, his lips quirking slightly. “There are some customs for claiming a Luna that I may have overlooked. But it seems they’re not willing to wait.”

The carriage doors opened, and out stepped the first one: tax, broader than Devon, with striking features and a thick, dark beard. His expression was cool, bordering on aloof, but his piercing grey eyes took me in with quick precision.

“Devon,” the man said, his voice deep and tough as a mountain. “You’ve been busy.”

“Brioc,” Devon replied with an even tone. “To what do I owe the honour?”

“Honour, he says like he hasn’t been avoiding us for the past few days,” came another voice, this one lighter and a little sarcastic. A second man appeared, this one leaner, with mischievous brown eyes and sandy hair tied back at the nape of his neck. He clapped Brioc on the shoulder as he stepped forward, flashing a quick grin. “You don’t write, you don’t call. We had to come see what’s got the great Alpha so distracted.”

I crossed my arms as their gazes shifted to me. I could feel their scrutiny, even though their faces barely reflected it.

“You must be Celeste Le Torneau,” the lean one said, grinning. “The Supreme Successor herself. That’s quite a catch, little brother.”

“Kaiden,” Devon warned. “Don’t.”

“What?” Kaiden asked innocently, holding up his hands. “I’m just saying she’s lovely. Not what I expected your mate to be, though.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What exactly did you expect?”

With no hesitation, Kaiden tilted his head as if studying me. “Someone quieter. Less likely to glare daggers at me.”

“You’ll find I exceed expectations,” I said sweetly, but my eyes didn’t leave his.

Brioc chuckled softly. “She’s got bite. I see why you’ve kept her to yourself. She’s just as stubborn as you, isn’t she?”

Devon exhaled sharply, clearly losing patience. “Why are you here?”

Laughing a little, Kaiden shrugged. “Two things. First, we heard about the cult activity in Ostonia. We thought you could use some more help.”

“And by help,” Brioc added, in a more serious tone, “we mean to make sure that this doesn’t spiral further. The family’s name is at stake, Devon.”

As Devon turned his attention to me, I caught a glimpse of his frustration in his eyes. “They are not wrong. There is already enough scrutiny on the House of Irving because of this cult. House Jojyre has been trying to use the lack of any leads on this cult to depose us as the Noblesse house.”

I nodded slowly as my brain did the analysis. It was one thing to know the great houses were at war, but it was another to try to oust the protectors of Wridel that Gaia had appointed. In all of this, Jojyre house was slowly looking like the real culprit. I looked over at Brioc and Kaiden Irving. They weren’t what I expected—well, I hadn’t known what to expect of the Irving house. Given the long-standing history of only three ruling houses, I assumed they wouldn’t support my selection. I had no idea that was the case. I’d been oblivious to so much.

“Well,” I said, smoothing my gloves and standing a little taller, “What’s the second thing? You said two things.”

Kaiden’s smirk deepened, and Brioc cocked his head slightly. “There’s been talk about Devon taking a mate,” Brioc said calmly. “Strange, considering the recluse hadn’t told us anything about it. There are” customs, rites that should’ve been performed.”

“Before marking you,” Kaiden said, his grey eyes dipping to my neck. “But I see he already did.”

I blinked, my fingers unconsciously brushing the faint scar where Devon’s mark rested. I glanced at Devon, whose jaw twitched just enough to show his irritation.

“This isn’t the time,” Devon snapped.

“Isn’t it?” Kaiden drawled, crossing his arms and shifting his weight to his left. “You’re taking her around without even an introduction to the family, and you think that’s not worth mentioning? As your mate, she must be dubbed the title of high lady Irving, it should put the rest of the snivelling high council in their place.”

“Enough,” Devon growled. “This is neither the time nor the place.”

Kaiden shrugged, clearly unfazed, but Brioc got closer to Devon. “He’s not entirely wrong, Devon. These rites are sacred for a reason. Skipping them leads to” questions.”

“Questions I can deal with,” Devon said. “Right now, there’s a cult threatening Wridel, and my mate is helping me stop them.”

Mate. It sent a ripple of warmth through me, even as Kaiden whistled.

“Mate,” he repeated, smiling again. “Right. You see, that makes her the Irving Luna, and even you can’t fight it.” His gaze shifted to me, assessing but not unkind, and I smiled. Even for high lords, Devon’s brothers were surprisingly down-to-earth, unlike many of the snobbish elves and Faes I’d encountered.

“Sounds like it’s settled,” Brioc said pleasantly. “The entire family and pack will gather at the compound tomorrow to witness the ceremony. Invite the Le Torneau’s, will you?”

My mind was already racing as I opened my mouth to object. “I must decline. I have a conference with the Supreme Eminence tomorrow.”

Kaiden’s expression changed. “I don’t care about her and her schemes. We’ll contact her and cancel. This comes first.”

The bluntness took me by surprise. “I don’t think you can cancel on Loreleia just like that. That’s’”

“Entirely possible,” Brioc interjected smoothly. “This is a matter of family and legacy. It’s more important than whatever game the Supreme Eminence is playing.”

I looked to Devon, searching for his reaction, but he was impossible to read. He pressed his lips into a thin line, watching his brothers out of the corner of his eye.

“Devon?’” I asked, hoping for some kind of response.

He sighed, shoulders rolling back as he looked at me. “The ceremony is important, C—il. The pack and family will officially recognize you as Luna. Also, you need it to be protected as the next sovereign. The Loreleia conference can wait, it’s not as important.”

I wanted to argue, to point out that nothing about the Supreme Eminence could wait, but I held back my tongue.

“Fine,” I said, crossing my arms. “But if this backfires and Loreleia uses it against me, I’ll hold you personally responsible.”

Kaiden chuckled, clapping Devon on the shoulder. “She’s got fire. You’ve done well, brother.”

Devon’s expression softened just enough to show a smile. “It won’t backfire.” he assured me. “Trust me.”

I wanted to believe him, but that knot in my stomach wouldn’t loosen. Still, I nodded. What choice did I have? Tomorrow I’ll be officially inducted into the Irving clan, one of Wridel’s Great Houses. A strange twist of fate, perhaps, but one I was beginning to think was Gaia’s way of making sure I wasn’t alone. Having the Lycans by my side and my family behind me, I might even stand a chance.

Kaiden stepped forward with a smile. “I’m going to personally invite the Le Torneau house.” His gaze flickered to Devon and back to me. “Make sure Lady Irving is ready for tomorrow, brother.”

Lady Irving. The title felt a lot heavier than I expected, but Kaiden talked about it with a casualness that made it seem effortless. As if it already belonged to me.

Devon nodded as he answered. “She’ll be ready.”

Then Kaiden turned to me and let his grin soften a little. “Celeste, we’ll see you soon.” He winked, then tipped his head in a respectful bow to Devon before heading back to their carriage.

I watched them climb back into their carriage and roll off before taking a deep breath.