But I wasn’t a galeon descendent.
I wasn’t galeon at all.
Would I survive Nala’s death?
Could I?
Would I want to?
A world without my familiar would be dark and gray and the mere thought of the possibility sent my mind spiraling.
I clenched my teeth and blinked rapidly, willing my breathing to stay normal and the tears to stay in my eyes.
She was going to be okay.
She had to be.
The rain started to hammer the roof. It was really coming down now. The last thing I wanted to do was take Nala out into the cold again.
“If it’s okay with you,” I said. “I’d like her to stay with you and try the regular healing sessions.”
“Of course,” Orion rocked back on his heels. “I would do anything for Nala.” His gaze flicked to Ace briefly before he returned his attention to me. “I’d do anything for you, too.”
“Thank you,” I said.
He nodded and silence descended on the cabin for a moment. “What do you plan to do now?” Orion asked.
“I don’t know,” I said. “Sleep. Then plan, I guess.”
“Have you seen your cabin?” he asked. “The residents tried, but they couldn’t save it all. Where do you plan to stay?”
“She’s staying with me,” Ace said.
Orion’s expression closed off and he stiffened. “I see.”
I hesitated and eyed the door. Maybe I should leave it at that. But Orion didn’t know about Paul, and if my brother came back to town looking for me… “There’s something else.”
Orion frowned and glanced at Ace.
“Paul is a part of the rogue group that’s attacking bonded galeons.”
Orion sucked in a breath, his gaze flicking between me and Ace. “Are you sure?”
“Pretty phaaning sure,” Ace mumbled.
“He held us prisoner and planned to execute Ace,” I added.
Orion’s mouth dropped open. “But not you?”
“Thanks for the concern,” Ace said.
Orion scowled, but didn’t say anything.
“No, not me,” I said. “Which is what doesn’t make sense.”
Orion’s frown somehow deepened, the creases in his forehead becoming more prominent. “You’re his twin sister. He loves you. Of course he wouldn’t execute you.”
“Exactly,” I said. “So why did the rogue hunters try to kill me more than once?”
