Chapter 37

Valeria

After about thirty minutes, the warriors return from battle. Raphael bursts through the doors, bare‑chested, only in his pants. I rise and hurry toward him, scanning for wounds, desperate to be sure he isn’t hurt.

“You’re okay?” I ask, spotting a few scratches.

“Yes.” He steps closer, his hand brushing over my shoulders in a gentle caress.

“What happened?” I ask.

“Our enemy attacked.”

“They weren’t rogues?”

“No—”

A man in the crowd steps forward. “How did they get here?!”

“Did