Mia chuckles and grabs the end of her blond hair, twirling it around her finger. “Legion is deep and full of secrets. I think he probably feels things more deeply than all of us.”
“You love him.” It’s not a question.
She glances sideways at me, but when she looks back at him, her expression softens. “I do. He’s kind and smart, compassionate, and with this deep side that just blows my mind. When I look at him, I see the kind of world I want for my future. One day, I hope he can look at me and see me and perhaps return my feelings, but until then, I’m just content to watch him and wish him well. At least that way, if there are gods still around, he will have one person praying for him.”
I reach out and take her hand, squeezing her fingers in mine. “I hope you find someone worthy of you one day, Mia.”
She smiles, but her eyes fill with tears. She swipes them away and pulls her hand free. “On that note, I might bid you a fond goodnight. Thank you for coming back. I don’t have many friends.”
“You have one more in me forever,” I say.
She smiles widely, and with one last glance at Legion, turns and disappears into the dark. Sophie and Bear stand up.
“We’re heading off, too,” Bear says and holds out his hand. She takes his hand, and the two walk away.
I stare at the spot where they were, contemplating the smile on Sophie’s face. When I look up, I find Theo looking at me with a knowing grin.
“They make a strange couple, but it works.” He drains his cup. “Sophie’s pregnant.”
I wince.
“He’s been overprotective with the group and will probably continue to be so now. An alpha with a pregnant omega is a very dangerous situation.”
“When we’re gone, pass my congratulations to them,” I say stiffly.
Theo abruptly smiles. “Tomorrow I’ll be leaving, with any luck.”
“You are?”
He nods. “So, tell them when you have a chance; who knows when we will all be together again. Good night, Keres. It was wonderful to meet you officially. I can see why they chose you.”
What?
Before I can ask, he stands up and disappears into the darkness.
That leaves us and Legion.
He doesn’t look like he’s getting ready to move anytime soon, but I can sense a heaviness in the air, like we’re waiting for something. Jarek leans against my arm and plays with my fingers while the camp gets quiet.
The wind howls over the cliffs, and the smell of smoke is all around us, but this one smells like fire, and it’s pleasant compared to the burning smoke that haunts my nightmares.
“I remember sitting on the roof of a building with a fire like this, watching the sparks swirl in the wind. I thought I might catch the entire city on fire and panicked, but I couldn’t get it to go out.”
Legion is watching me with eyes that reflect the flames. His mouth is downturned, and his hands are loose between his knees.
He looks so sad, like someone has broken him, and he can’t help but allow us to see what’s beneath the cracks.
“I…” he stops and swallows hard. He slams a hand to his face, and then again.
“Hey!” I protest, but he abruptly sits forward, letting out a deep, frustrated snarl. He’s weaving where he’s sitting and muttering under his breath.
He’s drunk, I realise. Very drunk.
“I met my alpha, the one I’m supposed to be with, on a night like this. He was leaning on a wall, staring into a barrel of fire. I almost burnt the building, but he saved me.”
Legion closes his eyes, rocking.
“You did? Congratulations, Brother,” Mordecai says, but his smile fades.
