The envoy from Thornwood Pack stood in the war room with the particular stiffness of a man delivering news he knew would not be welcome.
"Alpha Renner sends his regards," the envoy began, "and wishes to inform the Lycan King and Queen that the boundary stones along the western ridge have been moved."
Aria exchanged a glance with Kael.
"Moved by whom," Kael asked, his voice gone carefully neutral in the way she had learned meant he was already angry.
"Alpha Renner believes the original boundary was drawn unfairly in his grandfather's time, when Ashenveil was weak and could not contest it. He believes, now that the kingdoms are at peace, it is reasonable to revisit old lines."
"Revisit," Vael repeated, "or simply move them three miles east in the dead of night and hope no one noticed."
