The words sting because they're true. But before I can respond, the man behind him speaks for the first time.
"She doesn't have to know." His voice is lighter than his companion's, but no less compelling. "She's already doing it."
As if summoned by his words, mist begins to curl around my ankles. Not thick or dramatic—just a whisper of silver that drifts toward the open door like it's curious about our visitors.
The pale man's eyes track its movement with interest. The dark one doesn't react at all.
"I'm Thane," the tall stranger says, his silver gaze still holding mine. "This is Stellan. Can we come in? We have a lot to discuss."
The request hangs in the air between us, heavy with implications I don't understand but can feel in my bones. Behind me, the air tightens. The kind of tension that says someone’s about to step between me and the unknown—even if I haven’t asked them to.
But the dread in my stomach has shifted into something else. Not acceptance exactly, but resignation. This was always going to happen. The moment I touched that crown, this became inevitable.
I step back, opening the door wider despite the sharp intake of breath from someone behind me.
"Come in."
Chapter 10
Bree
I step aside to let them in, my bare feet suddenly cold against the hardwood. The formal living room looms to our left, but I can't face the idea of sitting across from these strangers in a space that feels too big, too empty.
"Kitchen," I say, the word slipping out before I can think better of it. Where things feel... safer.
Thane's silver eyes flick to mine, but he doesn't argue. Just nods once and follows as I lead them toward the back of the house.
The guys fall in behind me, their tension radiating through the air like heat. I can feel their unease, their protective instincts kicking in, but they're following my lead. For now.
As we approach the kitchen, Theo catches my eye. There's something in his expression—that quiet intensity that's always steadied me, but also a question. Like he's asking if I'm okay, if I need him to step in.
I reach out, fingertips brushing his wrist. "I don't know what questions to ask," I whisper, the admission slipping out raw and honest.
His expression softens immediately. "I've got you," he says quietly, and something in my chest loosens slightly.
Jace immediately moves toward the coffee maker, needing something to do with his hands. "Coffee?" he asks, already pulling out mugs. "Water? I think we've got some of those fancy tea bags Theo bought."
Rhett shoots him a look that could melt steel. The last thing we need is to play host to whatever these men are.
Gray positions himself near the window where he can see everything. Rhett claims his usual spot by the counter, arms crossed, radiating barely contained tension.
I move toward the table, drawn to the empty chair next to Wes. He's sitting straighter than usual, but something about his posture seems off. Careful. When I approach, he goes completely still without looking at me.
I settle into the chair beside him, and that's when I feel it.
A pull. Gentle but insistent, like invisible threads trying to draw me closer. The air between us feels charged, different. My skin tingles where we're close but not quite touching.
Thane and Stellan take the remaining chairs. Stellan lounges with casual elegance while Thane sits straight, every line of his body suggesting controlled power. When he speaks, his voice carries an authority that makes me want to shrink into myself.
"Gray," he says, silver gaze finding him immediately. "Shifter." He tilts his head slightly, considering. "Though I haven't seen your kind in a long time."
Gray goes rigid against the wall, his face draining of color.
"Rhett. Fire Warden."
Rhett's hands clench into fists, and I swear I see heat shimmer around his fingers.
"Jace. Airbound."
