That’s why I find myself heading toward the healers’ compound instead of my room.
The compound is massive—a sprawling collection of buildings where the sick and injured are tended to. I stop one of the younger healers hurrying past, her arms full of bandages.
“Where’s Selene?”
“Treatment wing, I think.”
I weave through the corridors, past rooms where healers work and patients rest, until I find her. She is bent over a table, grinding herbs with another healer, discussing dosages in that precise way of hers.
When she looks up and sees me, her face goes pale. “Daciana.” She straightens immediately, concern flooding her features. “What’s wrong? You look like death warmed over.”
There’s a glow to Selene that wasn’t there before. Being mated suits her. She looks happier, softer somehow. It makes the exhaustion weighing on me feel even heavier in comparison.
The other healer glances between us, then quietly excuses herself.
“I’m having trouble sleeping,” I admit, sounding as rough as I feel.
“Trouble sleeping or not sleeping at all?” She crosses to me, professional now, her eyes scanning my face. “How long has this been going on?”
I press my lips together. “I’m having constant nightmares.”
Her brows draw together. “Nightmares? What kind of—”
“Does it matter?” The snap in my voice surprises us both. I soften my tone. “I just need something to help me sleep through the night. Something strong.”
She studies me for a long moment, and I can see her piecing things together—the shadows under my eyes, the tremor in my hands, the hollowness that has settled into my bones.
Finally, she nods. “Alright. Wait here.”
She disappears into the storage room and returns with a small pouch of dried herbs, which she presses into my palm. “Make tea with this before you go to bed. It’ll knock you out for at least six hours. No dreams, no waking.” Her grip tightens on my wrist. “But Daciana, this isn’t a permanent solution.Whatever’s causing these nightmares, you need to deal with it. You can’t just drug yourself to sleep every night.”
“I know.” I pocket the herbs quickly. “Thank you.”
I turn to leave, but she stops me. “Daciana, if you need to talk—”
“I’m fine.” The lie tastes bitter. “Really. Thank you, Selene.”
I leave before she can push any further, before she can see how close I am to breaking.
I’m so tired, but my day isn’t over yet. I still have one more thing to do.
The forest is quiet when I reach the site of the attack. I’ve been meaning to investigate properly, but between my duties and the nightmares eating away at my consciousness, I haven’t had the chance. Now, in the pale afternoon light, I summon three of the wild wolves. They materialize from the shadows, eyes bright and intelligent.
“Search,” I murmur. “Find anything that doesn’t belong.”
They spread out, noses to the ground, and I start my own sweep of the area. The rain has washed away most traces, but not everything. There—a boot print in the mud beneath an overhanging rock. Deep treads. Heavy. And there, fifteen feet away, another. Different pattern. Smaller.
My stomach drops.
Two shooters. This wasn’t random. It was coordinated.
“What are you doing?”
I spin, one hand going to my blade. Seth stands at the edge of the clearing, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
“Commander.” I straighten. “I was just—”
His eyes drop to my other hand. To the broken arrow shaft I picked up moments ago.
