Kael POVHe leads me up the stone stairs, Dax’s broad back a solid shadow I follow, his cedar-and-storm scent wrapping around me like a tether I can’t—don’t want to—shake. The cold, damp air of the cells fades with every step, replaced by the warmer currents of the packhouse: pine from the polished floors, faint leather from old furniture, the lingering sweetness of fresh-baked cookies drifting from the kitchen we just passed. Veyra stirs in my chest, a low, excited growl rumbling through me, her quirky energy buzzing at the shift from chains to freedom. Freedom on a leash, sure, but still freedom.Dax stops at a door just down the hall from what I’m guessing is his own room—smart move, keeping his rogue “trouble” close enough to watch. He pushes it open, gesturing me inside with a tilt of his head, his dark eyes tracking my every move like he’s half-expecting me to bolt. I step past him, brushing close enough that our scents tangle, honeysuckle and storm, and Veyra purrs traitorously
Last Updated : 2026-03-29 Read more