Chapter 11: The Predator’s Shadow

The banquet hall was basically a gladiator pit disguised as a ballroom. I was standing near a velvet curtain, nursing a glass of something expensive and bubbly, trying my best to look like furniture. *Just be invisible,* I told myself. *If I’m invisible, the wolves can’t hunt me.* "You’re doing a terrible job of disappearing," a voice purred in my ear. I didn't turn around. I knew that scent—colder than the mountain air, sharper than a razor. Kaelen. Even without turning, my skin felt like it was being scanned by a thermal camera. "I’m just enjoying the scenery, Your Majesty," I said, finally turning to face him. He looked like he’d just stepped out of a high-fashion editorial shoot for 'Psychopaths Monthly,' all sharp angles and suits that probably cost more than my entire life. "Though, for a party, it’s remarkably devoid of actual fun." "Fun is for packs that don't have an empire to run," Kaelen said, his eyes tracking a group of Alpha dignitaries across the room. "Why are you still holding that drive, Elian? You could have dropped it in a trash can and walked out into the night. You’re human—the guards wouldn't have even bothered to tackle you." I felt a shiver run down my spine, but I held his gaze. "Because the 'ordinary little human' isn't as easily discarded as you think," I whispered. "And because I know what’s on that drive isn't just about me. It’s about the fact that your own inner circle is leaking like a sieve." Kaelen stepped closer, invading my personal space until I was forced to lean back against the wall. The sheer pressure of his presence made my knees weak, but I locked them. *Don't show fear. He feeds on fear.* "You're playing a dangerous game," he murmured, his thumb grazing my jawline, a gesture that was half-caress and half-threat. "You think you’re the smartest person in this room because you can read a spreadsheet. But out there, in the dark? You’re just a snack." "Then stop treating me like a snack and start treating me like the only person who can keep your throne from collapsing," I retorted, trying to keep my voice from shaking. He laughed—a low, dark sound that had no business being that attractive. "The summit tomorrow is going to be a bloodbath, Elian. My enemies are already sharpening their knives. I wonder... if you're so smart, how long can you stay alive once the wolves stop pretending to be diplomats?" "I don't need to outrun them," I said, a smirk playing on my lips. "I just need to make sure they're running in the wrong direction." He leaned in, his breath hot against my ear. "I like that. A little fox in a den of lions. Be careful, Elian. If you get too close to the fire, you don't just get burned—you get consumed." He stepped away, leaving me breathless and leaning heavily against the wall. I looked down at my hand. My heart was going a mile a minute. *He’s playing me,* I realized. *He’s not just threatening me—he’s testing to see if I’ll run.* I took another long gulp of my drink. I wasn't running. I was just getting started. The summit was going to be a disaster, and I was going to be the one who lit the match.