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The thought sends a chill through me. Had I misunderstood all along? Could I have spared both of us months of pain if I’d only looked deeper, questioned more?

“I want to see her,” Leanna says, determination in her voice.

“Not yet,” I say firmly. “She needs time to adjust. Her senses are heightened, her emotions raw. Visitors would overwhelm her.”

Leanna looks like she wants to argue, but a warning glance from Cedric silences her.

“There’s something else,” Erik says, changing the subject. “The antidote has been fully tested. It works. We’re already producing more, distributing it to the affected shifters.”

Relief washes through me. “And Aria?”

“She has recovered,” Erik confirms. “As have most of the others who received the test treatments. We’ve lost only three—those who were too far gone before the antidote was administered.”

I nod, grateful for this small victory amid the turmoil. “We owe Maya a debt we can never repay. Without her work, we would have lost many more.”

“One more thing,” Erik says, his expression turning grave. He slides a folder across the table to me. “This came in this morning. I thought you should see it immediately.”

I open the folder, scanning the contents quickly. My expression darkens as I read, rage building inside me with each word.

“What is it?” Cedric asks, noting my reaction.

I close the folder, unwilling to share its contents just yet. “Nothing that can’t wait,” I say, though the coldness in my voicebetrays me. “What matters now is that thanks to Maya, the kingdoms are safe. The disease is being cured, and our people are recovering.”

“And when Maya recovers?” Leanna asks. “What then?”

“There will be a mating ceremony,” I say without hesitation. “In a month or so, when she feels ready. The formal recognition of our bond in front of the entire kingdom.”

Leanna studies me, her gaze piercing. “Has she forgiven you, Griffin? Truly?”

Before I can answer, a voice from the doorway catches everyone by surprise.

“Yes, I have.”

Maya stands there, dressed in a simple blue tunic and loose pants, her hair pulled back from her face. Jerry hovers anxiously behind her, looking apologetic.

“I tried to stop her, Your Majesty,” he says. “But she was quite insistent about getting out of bed.”

Maya steps into the study, her movements graceful despite her obvious exhaustion. I rise immediately and go to her side.

“You should be resting,” I chide gently, taking her arm to support her.

“I’ve rested enough,” she says, though I can feel the tremor in her muscles, the effort it’s taking her to remain standing. “There’s still work to be done.”

Leanna rushes over and embraces Maya carefully. “You scared us all half to death,” she scolds, tears in her eyes.

“Including myself,” Maya replies with a wry smile. She pulls back, addressing the room. “I know what the Silver Ring is planning now. Mathew and Cassian bragged about it to me.”

“What is it?” Cedric asks, his expression serious.

“They’re searching for humans with dormant shifter genes,” Maya explains. “People like me, with the genetic potential to shift but without the catalyst to activate it. They’re trying tocreate an army of artificially triggered shifters, loyal to them alone, ones who are capable of replacing the royal families.”

The implications are staggering. “How many?” I ask.

“I don’t know,” Maya admits. “But if Mathew was testing it on me and wanted me alive, I’m sure he has had other test subjects and at least some success.” She pauses, her hand unconsciously moving to touch the mating mark on her neck. “That’s probably why I was able to be your fated mate, Griffin: my dormant genes.”

“It doesn’t matter why,” I say firmly, my arm tightening around her waist. “All that matters is that you are.”

Maya’s hand moves to the scar on her throat, visible above the collar of her tunic. The wound has healed remarkably, but the scar remains—a jagged line of raised flesh that makes my wolf howl with rage every time I see it.