บททั้งหมดของ How to Catch a Mate: บทที่ 131 - บทที่ 140

AshlynWe got back to Panther City just after dusk. The tower lights were on, the glass catching the last smear of color in the sky. No one lingered in the lobby. We went straight to the war room on the twelfth floor. Ellan’s team had already cleared it and set water on the table. Keiral took the seat nearest the screens. Haden spread the latest map tiles while Adrian synced the ward feeds. Chase leaned on a chair back and tried not to pick at the bandage on his arm. Curt stood at my shoulder. Lechandray took the far corner where she could watch the door. Krav came in last. He didn’t sit. He stood at the end of the table and watched all of us, waiting for the point.Haden spoke first. He did not raise his voice. “We need to stop guessing. Gretorian gave us enough to act. If the fallen god is using the murders to push at the wards, and if Ashlyn is a draw because of Sheetal, then we can force a reveal. We control the ground and the timing. We give the field a reason to react.”Keiral n

Ashlyn The sound of boots and claws scraping against stone filled the space as we moved. Keiral scrubbed the last traces of chalk off the floor, the circles fading under the sweep of her hand. Dax powered down the repeaters, the soft hum in our ears cutting to silence. Adrian checked each node one final time before locking them into their cases. Krav stayed near me, eyes tracking every movement in the tunnel like he expected the darkness to lunge. His dragon energy was close enough to taste. Every time a shadow shifted, it flared in his eyes—blue burning to gold before he forced it down again. Mira followed behind us, holding her light steady. Her hands shook, but she didn’t complain. The smell of ozone still hung in the air, faint and metallic. When the last node clicked into its case, Haden gave the order. “We move. No talking.” We slipped into the main corridor. The drain tunnels were narrow here, concrete slick with condensation and old algae. Pipes ran along both sides,

Keiral The lab lights were the last thing I remembered before sleep pulled me under.I’d stayed too long again, staring at readouts and charts that didn’t make sense, half-empty mug of coffee gone cold beside me. One blink, one slow breath, and I was gone.When I opened my eyes, I was standing in a field I didn’t recognize.The ground was black sand. No buildings, no walls, just a wide stretch of emptiness that glowed faintly from somewhere below the surface. The air was dry and sharp. It smelled like rain that hadn’t fallen yet.Something moved in the distance. Hoofbeats. Slow, steady, heavy.I turned toward the sound.A black horse came out of the fog. It was massive—shoulders broad, mane long and tangled, eyes burning a faint gray light. Its hooves didn’t make sound when they hit the sand. It stopped a few feet from me and stared like it knew who I was.I didn’t move. “Where am I?”The air shifted. A second figure appeared beside the horse, tall and wrapped in a long shadow that s

Keiral Ashlyn nodded once. “Good. Because if you try, I will put you down fast.” She took one step back and cleared the air between them by a foot. Not more. Rhyse lifted his hands open. “My dragon has not moved,” he said. “I can keep him down.” “It is not your dragon I worry about,” Ashlyn said. “It is your fear.” He breathed out like he had not done that in a while. Two panther kids at the rail tried to sneak closer. Ellan flicked them back with a look. They went. “Keiral,” Ashlyn said without turning. “Do you feel anything wrong.” I did a fast scan. Mira’s heartbeat was quick but even. Her pupils were reactive. No sweat spike. No tremor in the hands beyond normal. The silver on the iris edge faded and returned with her breath. “She is not having an episode,” I said. “Her wolf is awake and watchful. Not hostile.” Ashlyn nodded. “Rhyse, what are you.” “Half dragon,” he said. “The rest is human. There is no wolf in my family.” “Then why the eyes,” Chase blurted, earning a gl

Krav Curt leaned his elbows on the table. “We’re splitting three ways then. Valley, Panther, Rat. What about Dragon Valley.” Rhyse straightened. “I can take a message. If Krav writes it, they’ll open the gate.” He glanced at me and then at Haden, checking if that was true. “It’s true,” I said. “But I’m not writing a polite note. I’ll fly it myself tomorrow after we set the first seam test.” Ashlyn nodded. “Make it clean. We need their witch and we need their eyes. Gretorian was helpful, but we can’t bet the whole board on one smooth talker in red and green.” Chase grinned. “Speak for yourself. I bet anything on that guy.” Haden gave him a look. “Don’t.” Chase shut up and drank. Mira’s gaze cut to me, then to Ashlyn. “What about me.” “You stay here,” Ashlyn said. “Ellan will house you in guest tier three. Keiral will check you every morning and night until we know how your wolf is handling the bond. You do not meet Rhyse alone.” Mira nodded, then looked at Rhyse and waited,