ght of secrets that had started to spill, just beneath the surface. Selene lay in her

ds echoed i

sure the court knows exact

w on the night outside. The forest stretched beyond the Vale, its darkened edges blending wit

on

y, and yet she couldn't shake the connection she felt. He wasn't like the others.

her thoughts. She sat up quick

, her voice sharper

most of the light from the corridor. He looked at he

ng me," he said, hi

er laugh that escaped her. "A

over his chest. "You're not here, Selene. You're somewhere else. And it's no

ady her breathing. She didn't want to lie to him. She could

gh the words felt hollow.

g in his gaze. "You're making mistakes. The court is

her voice firm. "I know the ri

before he nodded. "Just be careful. I don't trust any of this. Not the

en turned and left, leaving her

e border, in the sha

omething was coming. His pack had been restless for days, the tension building between them and the va

m as he scanned the horizon. "The council won't ta

ight in the forest. About the way she had looked at him-how she had not attacked him on instinct. There was

rdening. "I need to know what's going on i

row. "You really thi

"I think she might be

lind, Ronan. This is dangerous. You don't know what kind of

e air. "I'm not backing down. I'll find out what the

ghtly. "Just don't lose yourself in this.

gining the next meeting with Selene. He didn't know how

end wit

d, her body too restless. She had to leave, had

hold, keeping to the shadows. The night air felt cold against her skin as

uldn't stay. Not with Simon's words still echoing in her

emory of Ronan's gaze, that

r like silent sentinels. And then, in the distance, she

na

lanned this. She hadn't planned anythi

eady, broke the silenc

eath catching in her throat. "I don't know wh

eflecting the moonlight, amber-like molten gold. "I just

sion between them crac

d, unsure of whether she w

r like watchful guards. The moon bathed the earth in silve

uth I meant," he said, voice steady despite the storm in his chest. "The truth is th

d see the way his eyes searched her face-not for weakness, but for understandi

e raised to hate your kind. To fea

lips. "We were raised to

beat, two predators caught in

n said quietly. "Talkin

s can't happen. If either o

opped. "They'd call it bet

ly, as if the forest might offer her some kind of answer. But all

ve come tonight

did," h

g in her eyes. "Because I needed to know if you were real–i

ed, stepping just

confessed. "Because I should hate you.

voice low and laced with

dn't a

Her breath was shallow, his heartbeat audible even from a few feet

liked. "This won't end well, Ronan. Som

care. I need to see this through

ing shut. "You don't know wh

. "Then I'll keep

at. She spun back around, her voice

tensity. "Then I die knowing

lly built walls began to shake. "Why

said. "You could've killed m

e wasn't sure if it was the pull of his voice or something older, something roo

ust you," s

tly, his voice barely audi

r of them

eeper in th

pair of golden eyes was

ad followed

standing close, dangerously close. His instincts screamed a

lene's hesitation. Ronan's honesty. And somethin

trust he

this was bigger than ju

e pack wasn't going to