The celebration, such as it was, lasted exactly three hours before everything fell apart.

Arianna had barely finished washing the blood from her skin when Captain Thea appeared at Duncan's quarters, her expression grim.

"Lord Fredrick is demanding an audience," she said without preamble. "He's brought six of the neighboring Alpha representatives with him. They're invoking the Council of Territories."

Duncan, who'd been helping Arianna tend to her wounds from the fight, went very still. "He can't. That requires unanimous consent from all major territories."

"He has it." Thea's jaw was tight. "Lady Valkyrie has been busy while you were... occupied. She secured the votes this morning."

The Council of...