LOGINFor a beat, no one spoke. Then, he lowered Kaelani gently until her feet touched the ground, but he didn’t let go—his fingers slipping into hers, holding on like it was the most natural thing in the world. Kaelani’s gaze dropped to their hands. The contact stilled something inside her. No one ha
“You do.” He let his gaze drop—just for a second—to the space between them, the inches that still separated them. Then back to her. “But I meant it when I said I’d never leave you again… that was real.” A brief pause—not for effect, but because he meant it. “Not when it’s hard. Not when it’s me
Kaelani’s smile hit him harder than anything else had. For the first time, it was meant for him. Julian stepped into the room, closing the door quietly behind him and shutting out everything beyond it—the chaos, the noise, all of it. In here— was his peace. His heart. His whole world. He move
The room. The light. The faces. A breath caught in his chest. “Kaelani…?” His focus sharpened. His room. His packhouse. Familiar walls and scent. But something was wrong. His gaze moved quickly—his mother at his side, Jace by the window. No Kaelani. Julian pushed himself upright, pain tear
She didn’t look at him. “Julian Hale… fugitive status removed.” Another keystroke. “Jace Romano… fugitive status removed.” Her fingers paused for a fraction of a second before continuing. “Garrick Blake… charges dropped.” A quiet tap followed. “Release scheduled for… tomorrow morning.” Then—
A brief pause. “Am I wrong?” Councilor Voss didn’t answer. He simply watched her for a moment longer before speaking. “What is it that you want?” Kaelani held the room for a moment. “What I wanted the day I stood before you in the Chamber of Elders,” she said. “What I asked for then.” “To liv
“What you’re wearing is fine,” he said simply. “It’s only fabric.” He stepped closer and extended his hand toward her. For a moment Kaelani hesitated—not out of reluctance, but out of the strange flutter building in her chest. Then she slipped off her sandals and placed her hand in his. His finge
The path twisted through the darker reaches of the Unseelie woods, where the trees grew taller and the air felt thicker with quiet magic. Draevyn walked ahead of her at an unhurried pace, one hand clasped loosely behind his back as if he had all the time in the world. Shadows bent gently around him
The other sentinels recoiled. They clutched at their heads, snarling in pain, movements faltering as if the wound echoed through them all. Julian barely had time to breathe. One lunged. He shifted back into his wolf instinctively, muscles snapping into place as he pivoted on all fours. A slash o
They bolted. Branches whipped at Julian’s face as they tore through the undergrowth, boots pounding over roots and stone. The forest exploded into motion behind them. The sentinel charged. Fast—far too fast. Its footsteps weren’t heavy; they were wrong, a rapid skittering thud that gained ground







