or's

e Kael's quarters

t cont

something in place-something neither of

rms still folded, but her posture had shi

h

her

pull that didn't fade eve

now, staring at somet

a

po

ing b

erything be

e the sil

't going

look up. "

"Locking me in here. Calling it o

ormal," Kael

replied. "S

pa

inally turn

her with that same

t agree,"

short breath. "

away from the

you here for co

igur

a few fee

reacted i

ently th

...

that she

ed her rea

narrowed

it again

idn't

e been point

she a

lowered. "D

inked.

e what y

itated.

eed data," h

her star

he repeat

n't flin

really do treat everything

tightened

t emotional

look. "That's wh

pa

kered in his e

ke pressure. Like... something pulling me

gaze sh

ed honestly, "And it's w

s narrowed

," he

t t

mp

bell

t. So we're both losing co

respond to

increases when physica

wned. "W

reaction

again. "So what happen

t answer i

er more uneasy th

said, "Insti

ed slightly. "Mean

at her for a

aid qu

lf stops askin

le

eavier than i

. "And yours l

ened slightly. "

hat answer made h

ful step back w

ticed i

ollowed th

not do tha

wned. "D

way abr

inked.

pa

voice l

se it

roze s

t rea

w tighten

at him for a

re telling me even dis

nodde

owly. "And prox

her

humorless laugh. "T

idn't

e remained

ggres

co

erv

sur

e her the same way she was

e the sil

" she asked carefully, "abou

ssion shifte

reaction she had seen

w tigh

rrelevant,

eyes. "It didn't

ned slig

ical manipula

not an

ed colder. "It is

k a step

of your council. Called me yours in front of everyone.

ned back

en them tight

my protection,"

't ask

rstand what you

s gaze. "The

pa

sion st

at her for a

aid qu

... then your bloodline didn'

went

conti

refine

ce dropped

es

t does t

hesit

itation

ett

h

at your lineage may have learned h

hat doesn't soun

ael said, "when it

le

tomach t

m part of that?"

es met he

your existence alone is evidenc

arder than

d away for

back

aid quietly, "I'

tened slightly-b

not say

're thin

pa

am thinking I do

rtled her more t

ied him c

like that

idn't

e said

ttled betwee

tense

uncer

poke s

her d

e flickere

h

echoed from

em turned

sion hardened

t," he

htly and one of the

ture wa

he lower district. Wolves are questioning the presence

jaw tig

gain, though something

cou

r going to

ped towar

uter gates,

, Al

orcer h

There is... a

arrowed sligh

ed briefly at Lyra

northern border. It bears th

dropped

breath

rned fu

o," he d

orcer s

hed, Alpha. Bu

pau

ished ca

ond will not remain

ent comple

t it imm

felt

first time sin

suddenly felt less uncerta