“Ben. Inside. Now.”
Only then did Rynna see the boy, small and sleepy, trailing Mira’s steps.
“Momma?” He rubbed at his face, eyes barely open.
“Go inside and prepare for bed.” Mira’s tone left no room for argument as she angled her body between her son and Rynna like a shield. Her arm extended slightly, not touching the boy but guiding him all the same.
“Yes, Momma.” Ben yawned and shuffled backward.
He disappeared behind the thick wooden door as light flickered to life beneath the threshold.
Rynna bit down on her tongue. She didn’t move. Didn’t twitch. Not with Mira’s back turned. The last thing she needed was to make the wrong move and get flash-fried for the trouble. She was already skating on thin ice after the whole“Not entirely human”reveal.
Mira’s fists clenchedat her sides as her shoulders rolled back, spine straightening. Then she inhaled through her nose and turned slowly to face them.
“Explain.”
Rynna swallowed hard. That was…better thanTell me why I shouldn’t reduce you to ash.
She opened her mouth—
“Explain why either of you should be permitted to see the dawn.”
Shit.
Rynna backed up a half-step, palms slightly raised in peace, but Mira wasn’t finished.
“Explain,” she continued, voice low, “why—after the hospitality we’ve shown you, after swearing you’d abide by the rules: stay inside the village walls, don’t touch the Source, and—I assumed it went without saying—don’t murder anyone—” she hissed as fire pressed beneath her skin, seething under the surface. “You show up, on Five-day, atmy home,where both I and my son sleep, covered in blood andreekingof Source power!”
“The Source?” Rynna’s head snapped toward Kaelith, eyes wide. “Did you—?”
Kaelith didn’t look at her.
His focus stayed locked on Mira, even as the glow flared hotter in the woman’s palms, red pulsing at the edges of her fingers.
“We were attacked.” His voice held none of the lazy flirtation from earlier. “There was a rockslide. I reacted on instinct. My body isn’t healed enough for that kind of movement unaided.”
He dipped his head once.
“Once we were clear, Rynna handled the threat. She did not use the Source. Any fault lies with me.”
“Attacked?” Mira’s eyes narrowed.
“Yes, Warden.” Another controlled dip of his head.
Rynna’s stomach churned.Why is he protecting me…again?
“You should not have been out at all.” Mira stepped forward, question implied.
“I sensed a flicker of the Source,” Kaelith said. “Faint. But distinct. I thought it might be a member of my unit.”
“And you sought escape.”
“No, Warden.” He shifted, just slightly—an inch forward, a quiet step between Rynna and the other woman. “I meant to intercept them. To ensure they never got close enough to glimpse the village.” He glanced down, the corner of his mouth twitching. “Didn’t want to burden you with a second despicable Hollow-born.”
It was a lie. Every word of it. But…
“Is this true?” Mira looked over Kaelith to Rynna.
