VIKTOR'S POV

I stepped out to welcome Soraya Silvercrust after Aeron's mindlink informed me of her arrival. He was already gone by the time I made it outside.

To my mild surprise, Soraya's brother had come with her. I had expected her to come with her handmaiden at most. I didn't miss how Maeron's gaze lingered on Ariel—but I did my best to ignore the instant urge to claw out his eyes and feed them to him.

“Tired of my face already?” he teased as we shook hands.

“I was expecting my bride, not her entire pack,” I replied, letting my gaze shift to Soraya. She gave me that cartoonish,...