Caspian's Pov

The black tie hung in my hands like a noose.

Not because it was too tight, because it felt like the thing would choke me before the night was over.

I stood in front of the mirror, the late evening light pouring in through the open curtains. It was almost beautiful outside, the sun bleeding its last streaks of red and gold over the horizon, the first stars just beginning to pierce the velvet blue above. But beauty meant nothing tonight.

Not with the full moon coming. Not with Zade’s invitation sitting on my desk like a challenge I couldn’t ignore.

My fingers worked the tie into place,...