Wilder’s gaze lifts heavenward as if he can’t believe I am apologizing. He deserves more, and I silently vow to do better, to be better, for him and us. I love him and must tell him before we run out of time.
But before I can, Gianna enters, followed by several others.
“What did I miss?” Gi asks.
Wilder peers down at me, a tight smile on his face, and I squeeze his hand.
As Leigh catches Gianna,Ry, Pallas, and Marlowe up on her plan to stop the invasion, I formulate my plan to rescue her grandmother by infiltrating the wolves’ camp.
With her arms crossed, Marlowe settles far away from the commotion in the center of the room against the far wall beside the closet. She assesses each person here, and I find myself doing the same to her while she is distracted.
After months of searching, having her so close confuses me. I’m unsure how to act around her anymore or whether I should include her in my plans to rescue Leigh’s grandmother. Marlowe’s skills would be invaluable in getting in and out of the wolves’ camp undetected, but I worry about the potential consequences. If I invite her along, she might interpret it as forgiveness or belief in her claim that she’s changed, even though that’s not true.
When Marlowe meets my gaze, I avert my eyes. She makes me uneasy, and that’s not how I want to be on the eve of an invasion.
Brigid places her hands on her hips and addresses Leigh beside me near the bed. “Alden is Lua’s Enforcer. He’s as mean as they come, yet you’re saying you’re going to get him to forsake his brother because of some girl?”
“Not just any girl, his mate,” Leigh clarifies.
Brigid rolls her eyes. “I don’t believe in mates.”
“How do you plan on convincing him to help you?” Gianna asks, ignoring Brigid.
“Well, Ravi told me he is sleeping, and?—”
“Wait, when did you talk to Ravi?” I ask as I watch Pallas help Bennett arrange his scrying materials on the floor.
Leigh sighs. “Just now. I created a psychic connection with Ravi using astral projection, like the day I visited you here.” Her cheeks flush pink as we glance at the bed behind us, memories flooding back.
I see flashes of her naked body writhing against the sheets, lost in pleasure. Desire courses through me, tinged with frustration. The others watch our silent exchange, sensing the unspoken issues between us.
That night, I let Leigh distract me with sex, too caught up in the heat of the moment to push for emotional intimacy. She didn’t share her fears about Alden’s proposal, and now we’re facing the consequences of our lack of communication. Bennett and Corvina’s betrayal, the looming invasion . . . I clench my jaw, determined to break down the walls between us. No more letting physical connection eclipse vulnerability and trust. It’s time to face our challenges head-on.
“What does that mean?” Marlowe asks.
“It’s an out-of-body experience where my soul travels while my body remains stationary,” Leigh responds.
“Are you going to astral project to Alden?” Gianna remarks.
I stiffen at the thought of her putting herself in danger, but also trust that she can handle herself.
Leigh shakes her head. “No. I am going to dreamwalk.”
“Come again?” Gi says, and Leigh launches into an explanation of what that is.
I clear my throat. “Okay, so you visit Alden while he’s sleeping to ensure no one walks in on your two talking. Then youoffer Alden the cure and see what he says. However, we still use Bennett to locate the wolves’ encampment and rescue the others while Alden is distracted. I will lead a team of myself, Marlowe, Brigid, and Isolde to extract the queen and Stellan tonight.”
“Excuse me,” Gianna interjects. I turn to face her as she pushes herself away from her propped position against the desk next to Ry, raising an eyebrow. “Stellan is my father,” she says. Her words ring like a gunshot in the quiet room.
Bennett opens his mouth, but I silence him with a dark look. There will be time for questions later. “If anyone is going on the rescue mission, it’s me.”
“After everything Stellan did to deny you, Gi, you still want to go?” Leigh asks.
Brigid scoffs beside Bennett, who is lighting a bundle of sage. He will need an entire bushel to clear the negativity in this place. “You may be his kid, but you’ve had zero training. You’d only slow us down.”
“Shut up, Brigid. That isn’t up to you,” Ry scolds. Brigid sticks her tongue out at him. He shakes his head. “Grow up.”
Gianna meets my stare. “I refuse to stay here while you get to be the hero. Let someone else be the damsel for once.”
