AN'S

per than usual. Her arms were folded tightly across her chest, lips pursed like she'd been holding back mor

chair with an easygoing shrug. "Elda just said so. That could e

erase entire identities unless someone very powerful cast them. What if she really

leaned into it. She was staring directly at Thalia now, her tone pointed. "I wonder why you're so

htly, as if a protest had rushed forward and

een that I hadn't? Thalia had always been fiercely protective of me, of the Crescent Vale P

would be wrong to toss her out or leave her to fend for herself-not when rogues are still lurking near the borders. However"-I paused, letting my voice drop-"a

"A wise decision, Caela

Elda bowed her head slightly in acknowledgment and vanished down t

she left beh

wooden table with his finger, "we really can't ignore the possibility that Nyla cou

said something useful. I thought I was

latent threat is slim-for now. We're confused, not blind. We just don't have a protocol for this... someone

ed, looking away, her

h mischief. "She wouldn't even know I'm there. Plus, I'm very

weighing

at tailing people. And discreet. If anyone could keep an

tch her, and noth

placing a dramatic hand to his che

ying, sure-but useful. He played dumb most of the time, but he missed very little. He'd report

g that having to spy on her at all

crossed and lips trembling-not with anger, but something else. Hur

e her, gently placing my fingers under h

e, aren't you?"

lan. I can't remember the last time we disagreed on anything. Even Ashir

a. I didn't mean to

ers-a familiar, reassuring kiss. She responded instantly, her hand tangling

n I pul

e could walk in at any time. The walls he

ed, lips slightly pa

because I didn't kn

y

or the way she blushed when I caught her staring at me. I didn't even know why it

inely laughed-for the first time in weeks. And tha

hrough the war, through rebuilding the Crescent Vale Pack, through the endless meetings and patrol

, softly now. "What ar

anding and scooping her up into m

tension in her melting already. She pressed a soft kiss to my jaw as I

er in that way in a long time, not since the last battle with the rogues. Rebuilding the pack had consumed every hour, every drop of strength I

d my chambers. I pushed the door open and laid her on the bed with more

against my mouth and reached for the hem of her dre

here, no questions, no what-ifs. Only the two of us, tangled in

r, her head resting on my che

hing I didn't quite hear and drifted off to sl

emained

everything-I couldn't s

la

fe

myst

wolf kept stirring w

But it was something. A pull. An ache in the back of my mind and deep in m

new this was onl