Elena: He’s not my boyfriend. He’s my mate
Me: Mate. Right. Dragons are WILD, babe
I smile. Scroll further back. Months of conversations. Late-night conspiracy theories and 3 a.m. coffee runs and Elenasending me articles about “healthy friendship boundaries” that I absolutely did not read.
Normal life.
Before helicopters and near-death experiences and ancient kings who turned my world upside down.
My phone buzzes.
New message. Elena.
Elena: You okay up there?
I stare at the screen. Type and delete three different responses before settling on:
Me: Yeah. Just processing.
Three dots appear. Disappear. Appear again.
Elena: I love you. You know that, right?
Elena: Whatever you decide tomorrow, I’ve got your back
My throat closes.
Me: Love you too, babe
Me: Even though you’re conspiring with your magic mom to emotionally devastate me
Elena: That’s what best friends are for
Elena: Also, she’s not conspiring. She’s just very direct
Elena: It’s a Rossewyn thing, apparently. All the witches in our line do it
All the witches.
Like Lyria.
Of course.
I shove my phone back in my pocket and turn to face the mountains.
Tomorrow, I’ll be free.
And I’ll finally know if what I feel for Kael is real.
Or if I’ve just been confusing necessity for love.
Chapter 28
Kael
The interrogation room is underground. Three levels below the main facility, where stone replaces steel and the mountain’s weight presses close. No windows. No natural light. Just harsh bright bulbs that make everyone look half-dead.
Appropriate, perhaps, for what we’re about to do.
