I struggled to prop myself up and pulled a box from beneath the bed. Inside lay the Death Walker's Iron Medallion, cold against my fingers, humming faintly with the old oath bound into its metal. I pressed it into Rowan's hands.

"Rowan, take this to the Alpha King's court. Give it to him and tell him Perenna Ashvane is calling in her Blood Debt. Tell him I want a Moon-Sealed Bond Severance."

Years ago, when the Alpha King himself had traveled to the Hollowmere Pack to bring the Alpha Heir and the Beta Lord back to Ironhold Territory, he'd been so grateful for my saving their lives that he promised me one request, anything I asked.

I had never dared waste that chance. Now, finally, it had a purpose.

Hadeon didn't return with Soren Ashwick until the following afternoon.

By then, the pack healer Rowan had summoned was already on his way out.

Hadeon caught the healer by the arm. "How is my mate?"

"She'll live. But I'm afraid..."

Hadeon's voice dropped low, unsteady in a way I'd rarely heard when it concerned me. "Afraid of what?"

The healer shook his head with a heavy sigh. "Her body is ruined. She'll spend the rest of her life in pain."

Something like guilt flickered across Hadeon's face. He gathered me into his arms, my body limp as a threadbare rag. "I'm sorry, Perenna. It's not that I didn't want to help you, but the Alpha Heir's mate is carrying a royal pup. I couldn't afford the delay..."

I gritted my teeth against the pain and pulled myself free of his embrace. I shook my head. "It's fine. You were up all night, my lord. Go rest."

His hands hung frozen in the air where I'd been. His voice came out scraped raw. "Are you angry with me, Perenna?"

I closed my eyes. My answer was flat, toneless. "This Omega wouldn't dare."

"Omega?"

Hadeon caught the shift instantly. He stared at me as though I'd spoken a foreign language.

Before, I had always addressed myself as "your mate" in his presence.

Now I'd changed the word. The line between us, drawn clean.

"Yes. This Omega was born lowly. Naturally, I can't be compared to the Alpha Heir's mate. So you did the right thing, my lord. This Omega wouldn't dare hold it against you."

A violent cough tore through me, and blood splattered from my lips. Hadeon saw it, and for once, he asked nothing more.