The ground shook.
Katherine grabbed Diana's arm.
“What is happening?”
Adrian smiled.
“For centuries, the Redblood throne was protected by the First Wolf.”
Thomas went pale.
“No.”
Adrian looked at him.
“You know the legend.”
“The First Wolf is a myth.”
“No,” Adrian said. “It is a weapon.”
A crack opened beneath the floor.
Silver light poured upward.
The castle groaned.
Diana stared at Adrian.
“You've lost your mind.”
“Have I?”
Adrian pointed toward Katherine.
“Julius's blood. Your power. The crown.”
His smile widened.
“All three were required.”
Diana suddenly understood.
“You didn't want the throne.”
“No.”
“You wanted control of the wolves.”
“Yes.”
Adrian's eyes gleamed.
“With the First Wolf, every pack in the northern territories will obey me.”
Katherine stepped forward.
“You're afraid of me.”
Adrian laughed.
“I'm afraid of what you could become.”
Diana moved.
She attacked.
Adrian's guards rushed forward.
Thomas and the loyalists intercepted them.
Diana reached Adrian.
Their swords collided.
“You took fifteen years from me,” Diana said.
“I gave you peace.”
“You gave me guilt.”
“And it kept you weak.”
Diana struck him across the face.
Adrian staggered.
Katherine suddenly screamed.
The glowing mark on her wrist had spread up her arm.
A voice whispered inside her mind.
Choose.
She looked around.
“What?”
Diana heard nothing.
Katherine saw something no one else could.
A wolf made entirely of silver fire stood inside the cracked chamber.
It looked at her.
Choose crown or freedom.
Katherine shook her head.
“I don't want either.”
The wolf tilted its head.
Then choose your own name.
Katherine understood.
All her life, everyone had told her what she was.
Powerless.
Servant.
Heir.
Weapon.
Diana's daughter.
Julius's blood.
She had never been asked who she wanted to become.
Katherine stepped toward the creature.
“I choose Katherine.”
The silver wolf lowered its head.
Then it disappeared into her.
The castle exploded with light.
Adrian fell to his knees.
“No!”
Katherine opened her eyes.
They were silver.
Diana stared at her daughter.
Katherine looked at Adrian.
“You wanted a weapon.”
Her voice was calm.
“You made a queen.”
Every wolf outside the castle suddenly turned toward Katherine—and began marching toward her.