Scout nods once. “Agreed.”
A beat.
“And Tessa?”
“She stays with us,” I answer immediately.
No hesitation.
No discussion.
Scout’s gaze softens just slightly at that—and there it is again. That shift between us. Not distraction.
Not weakness.
Something stronger.
Something chosen.
“You trust me with her,” I ask.
It’s not a question.
“Yes.”
Always.
Her throat moves slightly, like she felt that deeper than she expected.
Good.
She should.
Because this—whatever this is between us—it’s not temporary.
It’s not situational.
It’s real.
And Sentinel is going to try to use that.
“He’s going to come for certainty,” Scout says quietly.
I hold her gaze.
“Yes.”
“And if he can’t break us—”
“He’ll try to make us doubt each other.”
The words hang there.
Heavy.
Because that’s the only angle left.
Scout steps closer now. Not by accident.
