Chapter 43: Wren
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Kael approaches mewith Finn and Atlas flanking him like a three-man wall, and instantly every nerve in my body tries to tell me something’s off.
Not dangerous.
Not panic-worthy.
Just...wrong.
Too quiet.
Too controlled.
Too intentional.
Kael stops a few feet from the trainer’s cart and says, “You hungry?”
Nothello.
Notyou okay?
Notready for lunch?
Just:you hungry.
I blink at him.“A little.”
Before I can ask anything else, Finn swoops in.“Perfect.We’re taking you to lunch.”
He says it too cheerfully.
Atlas nods once, already shepherding me toward the tunnel.“My car’s closest.”
Kael’s eyes flick to me, searching.Not for permission.For stability.For whether I’m about to fall apart or hold steady.When he finds the answer—steady enough—he nods once.
“We’ll talk after,” he says.
Three words that feel like someone placing a weight on the table and sliding it toward me.
Something’s happened.
I knew something was coming the second Kael’s phone buzzed on the ice and he didn’t open it.But he’s good at hiding strain.Too good.Finn?Not so much—he’s vibrating like a shaken soda can.Atlas looks like his jaw might crack from clenching.
But me?
I take a breath.Pick up my coat.Lock the cart.
And walk with them.
***
On the walk to theparking lot, Kael stays a half-step ahead, scanning every doorway and hallway like he’s mapping threats.Finn keeps brushing the back of my hand like he keeps forgetting he’s touching me and then remembers and does it again.Atlas stays behind us, not talking, just there.
They sandwich me between them from locker room to exit.
