No one replies, the truth weighing heavy in the air.
“So Rip didn’t just mark Tobias. He—”
“Bound me, yeah.” I suppress a shiver. “I’m Rip’s property for as long as I live.”
“No, Toby. This is only a mark. One way. If it was a bond between two people, there would be evidence of it.”
“Whatever. He still thinks I’m his.”
She reaches for me again, lifting my sleeve.
I shove my chair back and step aside. “Don’t touch me!”
Her eyes widen. “I’m sorry.”
The apology is real, but I take another step back, then another.
“What’s the significance of the symbols overlapping?” Forest asks.
Taren’s voice softens. “Runes, or sigils like this, usually only touch at the joints. When they overlap, it can alter their meaning and their potency.”
“Making them stronger?”
“Yes.” She chews her lip. “The good news is runes like this require proximity or repeated contact. If Rip hasn’t touched or reinforced the sigil recently, it may be dormant. It doesn’t mean it’s gone; it just means it isn’t awake.”
A snarl tears from Rowen as he gets to his feet. “Rip willnevertouch Tobias again!”
The silence that follows is deafening.
“He’s still under our protection, Rowen,” Forest says calmly. “That’s not going to change. But this is good. It gives us a better chance of understanding what he didto—”
“I’m going to kill him,” Rowen snaps, fisting his hands. “I’m going to fucking kill him.” He turns to me, eyes lethal. “I am, Toby. I’m going to kill that asshole for what he did to you.”
Fear slithers up my spine—not of Rowen, but of everything. We were having fun, and now…
Now it’s back to everything being covered in darkness.
Without another word, I turn and run up the stairs.
16
ROWEN
Tobias never came back down after Taren’s announcement. Or “discovery,” as she called it.
Whatever. It changes nothing. We already knew Rip thinks Tobias is his. But he’swrong.Tobias is no one’s.He belongs to himself. And, moons above, something in me snarls—and to me.
My wolf whines, pacing behind my ribs like he’s trapped.
Everyone sort of drifted back to the gingerbread houses after he left, but the mood was gone—dissolved into the air like sugar melting on the tongue. Taren abandoned her house and dove right back into research, books spread across the floor as she muttered near the fireplace.
It’s like the whole pack is holding its breath now. Waiting. For what, none of us know. Another clue? Another threat?
I can’t stand it.
My chest has been tight all evening—like a band wound too tight around my ribs. And I swear I canfeelTobias’ anxiety through the walls, like static under my skin. It crawls down my arms, up the back of my neck, settling behind my teeth. Every time I look toward the stairs, my body justmoves—like I’m already halfwayto him.
But Forest put a hand on my shoulder, told me to give him space.As if space as ever brought Tobias anything but darkness.
