Chapter 3

Early the next morning, Rhys, Kane's second-in-command, brought me an ebony box.

Inside was an ancient moonmark stone in perfect condition.

“Mr. Blackwood got this from the North. He even postponed two council meetings to track it down.

“He says Ms. Rowland knows she was wrong, and he hopes you won't hold it against her anymore.”

I looked at the box and didn't reach for it.

Kane always thought an expensive gift could erase a mistake. He never understood that some things couldn't be replaced.

I had someone take the box away, then turned to check on my rune project.

I'd spent two years studying ancient werewolf runes and had finally completed my protective rune array for Moonstone Academy's final assessment.

If I passed the assessment, I'd get a full scholarship.

I packed it in a custom protective case and headed to the exhibition hall.

The car had barely left the forest when Kane called.

“Have you left yet?”

“Yeah. There's an event I have to go to.”

“What time does it end? I'll pick you up.”

Last night he'd carried Celeste out without a second thought for my hand, but today he remembered my plans.

“Four this afternoon.”

“Okay. I ordered that chestnut cake you like. When you're done, we'll have dinner together.”

The old me would have melted. Now I just felt tired.

“Let's talk after the assessment.”

The line went quiet for a moment.

“Ella, wait for me.”

Before I could answer, the whole car jolted hard.

Something slammed into us from behind, knocking the mounting bracket out of place and sending the protective case tumbling to the floor.

I ignored the pain in my forehead and lunged for it.

The core of the rune array had shattered, and the crystal holding its key patterns had cracked.

Two years of work, gone just like that.

The door of the car behind us opened, and Celeste ran over in a panic.

“Ella, I'm so sorry! Kane said you wouldn't see me, so I tried to catch up with you to explain. My communicator fell, and when I bent down to pick it up, I didn't notice your car slowing down...”

I shook her off and took out my phone to call the guards.

She panicked. “Don't report it! If the Blackwood family finds out I was driving recklessly, they'll take away my chance to make the elite hunting squad!”

I ignored her, but she crouched down and tried to pick up the scattered crystal pieces.

“I'll get a rune master to fix it. I'll pay for everything!”

“Don't touch that!”

But she'd already cut her wrist on the broken crystal, and blood dripped from her fingertips.

When Kane got there, I was holding my forehead.

He hurried over and cupped my face to check how badly I was hurt.

“Are you dizzy? I'm taking you to the healer.”

My chest tightened. I was about to tell him my piece was ruined when Celeste cried out behind me.

Kane turned at once and wrapped her wrist in his coat.

“Who told you to touch those pieces?”

“I was just trying to help Ella...”

Celeste started to cry.

The guards came over and asked whether they should investigate the crash. Kane answered before I could. “It was just a minor rear-end collision. We can settle this privately.”

My head snapped up.

“I don't agree to that.”

He frowned at me. “Celeste is already hurt.”

“And my work is ruined!”

“I'll find the best rune master to fix it.”

“The assessment is in 40 minutes. Nobody can fix it that fast.”

Kane said nothing.

I gathered up my drawings and the crystal pieces from the floor, ready to flag down a ride to the exhibition hall.

Even if I couldn't turn in a complete piece, I wanted to explain to the academy in person and ask for a chance to submit it later.

But Kane stepped in front of the car door, blocking my way.

“What's the point of going now? To show the review committee a pile of broken pieces?”

I looked at him and finally understood. To him, the work I'd poured two years into was something he could throw away without a thought.

Suddenly Celeste bent over, gagging.

Kane immediately called the healer, who suspected a concussion from the crash and wanted her brought in right away.

Kane lifted her into his car. Only right before he left did he turn to me.

“Stay here and cooperate with the investigation. I'll call the event organizers and explain what happened.”

“Kane, the assessment won't wait for me.”

He glanced at me, but Celeste called his name from inside the car again.

In the end, he shut the door and drove off with her.

Forty minutes later, I received a notice from Moonstone Academy. I'd missed the submission deadline and lost my eligibility for the scholarship.

I sat by the side of the road holding the broken crystal. The blood at my temple had already dried.

I thought I'd be angry. I thought I'd cry and demand to know why Kane always made me give in.

But all I did was pull up my one-way flight, seven days out, and check it one more time.

It wasn't that Kane didn't know how much this piece meant to me. He was just sure I'd never leave him.

But this time, I really was leaving.