"It's superficial." He was already turning away, already retreating into the role of security consultant assessing the situation. "The containment failure needs to be investigated."
"Cole—"
"Get some rest, Lumi. The council session is tomorrow."
He walked away.
I stood in the corridor, surrounded by chaos, my wrist burning where he'd touched me.
Through my other bonds, I felt confusion. James, distant but aware that something had happened. Neal, rushing toward the east wing, sensing my distress. Cal, in wolf form somewhere nearby, his hackles raised at a threat he couldn't identify.
Stone. Stone was awake now, pressing against the barrier of his room. Through our bond, I felt his agitation—something was wrong, something had changed, someone had touched what was his.
But he didn't know what.
None of them knew.
Only Cole and I knew what had just happened. What had sparked between us in that moment of contact. What was now sitting in my chest like an ember, waiting to catch fire.
A fifth bond. Impossible. Unwanted. Undeniable.
I touched my wrist. The skin tingled where his hand had been.
"Lumi." Neal's voice, behind me. His hands on my shoulders, turning me to face him. "Are you okay? What happened?"
"I'm fine." The words came out automatic. Hollow. "Cole—he blocked the attack. He got hurt."
"I saw. Security's taking him to medical." Neal was studying my face, his healer's eyes missing nothing. "You're shaking."
"Adrenaline."
He didn't believe me. I could see it in his expression, feel it through the bond. But he didn't push.
"Come on," he said. "Let's get you somewhere quiet."
I let him lead me away. Let him guide me back to Stone's room, where the wolf was pacing in agitated circles, where Cal had shifted back to human and was waiting with worried eyes, where James arrived minutes later with fear written across his face.
They surrounded me. Held me. Demanded to know what had happened, if I was hurt, what they could do.
I told them about the feral. The attack. Cole's intervention.
I didn't tell them about the spark.
I didn't tell them about the bond flickering to life in Cole's touch.
I didn't tell them that everything had just gotten infinitely more complicated.
But as I lay in the dark that night, surrounded by my mates, I couldn't stop thinking about amber eyes and the feeling of a connection I hadn't asked for.
Chapter twenty-nine
The Council Chamber was standing room only.
I'd never seen it this full—every seat taken, people lining the walls, the air thick with tension and the buzz of whispered speculation. Word of last night's lockdown had spread fast. By morning, the entire campus knew that another lockdown happened and the security consultant had been injured.
They knew enough to be afraid.
I sat in the front row of the observer section, flanked by James. Neal was at the council table—he'd been called to present medical evidence.
