She studied me for a beat. “You can’t keep him safe if you won’t name what’s happening.”
“What’s happening,” I said, “is Rowan is sniffing around our perimeter. And I need Kellan contained.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I know.”
Silence stretched.
Then she said, “You already hurt him.”
I went still.
“I didn’t touch him without consent.”
“That’s not what I mean,” she said. “You hurt him when you called it a mistake.”
Heat flared in my chest. “That was for his own good.”
“And did it work?”
I didn’t answer.
Because it hadn’t. It had just put that look in his eyes. Like he’d expected more from me. And I disappointed him.
Ember exhaled. “What do you want me to do?”
“Keep him close. Keep him busy. Don’t let him outside alone.”
“I’ve been doing that.”
“And if Cassie starts again?—”
“I call you,” she said.
“Yes.”
She hesitated, then nodded once. “Fine.”
I turned to leave.
“He’s not stupid,” Ember said behind me.
“I know.”
“He’s going to figure you out.”
I didn’t look back. “Let him.”
Grim was already in my office when I got back.
“Slate update you?” he asked.
He nodded. “Rowan isn’t angry. He’s planning.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means he’ll force a moment where someone hesitates.”
