When the final bones were cast, every wolf in the sea-den craned forward, breath held tight in their throats.
My showing was the Pale Root Seven. Darian's was the Heart Five.
"Damn, this round hangs by a thread."
"Tch, hangs by nothing. Kael Nightthorne has already lost."
Darian maintained his smug posture, rapping his claws against the bone-table with absolute confidence.
"Kael Nightthorne, this casting decides everything."
"I won't let you die quickly. No, I'll make you watch as your foster-dam is mounted and broken by every rogue wolf here. Ha!"
"Reveal!"
"My hidden bone is the Heart Six—higher than anything you hold. Kael Nightthorne, you're finished."
The moment Darian flipped his hidden bone, I heard the collective howl of shock from the gathered wolves.
"What—how is this possible? That's not the Heart Six!"
