A'S

is jaw clenched with constant restraint, his clothes too neat to be casual. And he hardly ever spoke. It was usually that irritating Thalia charac

her, but I could tell they wer

ilt up in my chest when he offered to t

as expected, he didn't say a single word once we began the walk. He simply kept hi

esperately-to hear his voice again. Instead, I us

s of his shoulders, the way his muscles moved subtly beneath his dark shirt, his presence-it all screamed power a

-and the fact that I didn't even know who

until we went past t

es were there, some in human form, some shifting mid-fight, all with intense focus in their eyes. Some were clea

arlier haze-too desperate to escape. This time, I slowed down without meaning

tapped my shoulder that

in the pack need to learn to fight. I-and every member of my team-en

velvet, but laced with an edge that made me want

s about who I am first. Ev

once in un

rying to keep the conversation g

sion," h

was

y breath. Defini

oman, anyway? Is sh

ddess gave her special gifts. She was of immense help to

l. His voice held something unspoken ben

ake up in her chambers? Are you sure she doesn't want to harm me? What if she's

enly burst

kle. The sound was deep, genuine, warm in a way I didn't expect from someone who look

said, amusement still dancing in his eyes. "And

. "You sound awful

thing. It was annoyin

e you s

immediately looked away, my c

desperate to fill the silence that

that, the wa

d off in an instant, his

e," he said coldly

ong strides. What had I said wrong? Did he not like

-

the pit of my stomach. Caelan didn't seem afraid of the woman behind them-but he respe

up in her chambers. Or what she wa

within the room. It was old, but steady-like an oak tree

ph

my jaw dropped before I could

The silent authority. The confidence. The resp

be as a collection of skulls. They were bleached and clean, arranged almost like trophies or

ot warm, not cruel. But it made

ught she was a rogue at first. She revealed you were the one who had her. Wh

," Elda replied, chuckling.

trigued me. She was injured when I found her. But when I used

ious. His eyes searched mine like he was tryin

ickly, feeling small. "At least... I don't th

by magic. It clings to you, almost like a second skin. Someon

mall nod. "You know what? I trust that she's safe in your h

that, he tur

ut the words refused to come. I just stood the

ulse jumping. Elda had moved without a sound-impress

voice like warm soup on a cold day. "No need to be

ure. My stomach rumb

an to walk deeper into the ro

al tea, and perhaps a little

gely, I d

questions, and the ache that came with watching

me whispered that Elda

this was the first step towar