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Many of the people wore some sign of House Vaelor. A merchant fastened his coat with a silver snow leopard clasp, while a physician wore midnight-blue edging around her collar.

Two little girls outside a bakery caught my eye. The younger one stared until her sister nudged her. Both immediately straightened and copied the soldiers’ salute, but the smaller girl struck her chest with such enthusiasm that she nearly knocked herself sideways.

I smiled, and she smiled back.

A woman carrying a loaf wrapped in linen emerged behind them and rested one hand on each girl’s shoulder. “A new light to you, my lady,” she said.

“And to you.”

She seemed briefly taken aback as she guided the girls inside. The smaller one twisted around and waved, and I waved back.

Commander Halden glanced towards me. “You have quite made her day.”

“I think she’s made mine.”

We continued beneath an enormous arch carved directly into the mountain. Figures covered the rock on either side of us, stretching for metres along the walls. Soldiers stood beside farmers, physicians, miners, engineers and scholars, each carved with the same care. Names and dates had been cut beneath them in Kottarsht, the markings still crisp even though some looked thousands of years old.

“Not only soldiers,” I murmured, mostly to myself.

Commander Halden heard me.

“Every citizen contributes to the strength of High Mountain, my lady. We honour them regardless of their calling.”

I smiled at that.

The avenue curved around another section of the mountain towards a set of enormous double doors that had to be at least seven or eight storeys high, easily the biggest I’d ever seen. Dark iron covered their entire surface, with an enormous silver snow leopard set into each one, facing its twin across the divide.

“Do you need a whole team of soldiers just to open and close these?”

Samir laughed. “High Mountain Alphas are built somewhat differently. I imagine only a few would have been required in earlier times.”

I looked at the doors again.

“A few?”

“Fortunately, the doors are automated now,” Commander Halden said.

I looked at him. “There’s more than one?”

“Considerably more than one.”

Of course. Of course.

Cedric came to stand beside me. “Are you ready, Elowen?”

I took a deep breath. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

He offered me his arm, and I slipped mine through it.

Eleanor had explained this part to me. Cedric wasn’t simply walking me inside. As Head Alpha of Pack Hart of Kharith, he would formally deliver his firstborn Omega into House Vaelor.

Everyone around us was waiting for me.

I looked towards Commander Halden and gave him a small nod.

He touched something behind his right ear.

The enormous doors began to open.