“You too,” I say, before ending the call.
The silence that follows stretches tight within the small office space.
Elias drags a hand down his face. “You think Calder’s hiding or being moved like a chess piece?”
“Could be both,” I say, jaw flexing. “As we’ve seen with Taren, Malrik formed a connection with each of them. Some stronger than others, but it makes them all a risk.”
“Are we going to have to kill Taren?” The inflection in his voice tells me he wouldn’t want to, but would understand if we didn’t have a choice.
“I have a plan for her, but it involves Rowan, and I’m not ready to ask her to step in yet.”
Elias nods grimly. “She may not have a choice as to when that happens. Especially now that you?—”
The door swings open, and Rowan slips inside, brows raised and expression caught somewhere between amusement and mild dread.
“Sooooo.” She drags the word out, stepping deeper into the room, “I’ve been told I shouldborrowyour arm as a bite guard. Apparently, my options are ‘your arm’ or ‘a wooden spoon,’ and no offense, but I trust your bones more for this particular task.”
Elias coughs to hide a laugh.
“And what task would that be?”
She smiles sweetly at me. “The one you arranged, of course. My tattoo.”
Of course, Stephanie went straight to Rowan when I ignored her attempts at contact. “I was going to tell you.”
Rowan shrugs like she’s discussing the weather. “Don’t worry, Stephanie said it very cheerfully. Though that feels more like a red flag now that I’m thinking back.”
I rub a hand across my jaw, hating that there’s no way to protect her from this, but also knowing she’ll need it later. While I have an issue with others seeing her body, this isn’t just about me. She needs to be able to protect herself at all times, and if she hesitates in shifting because of her inabilities…
It’s a risk I won’t tolerate.
Elias winces. “She’s not wrong. Witch-branding isn’t pleasant.”
Her eyes narrow. “Not pleasant like, ‘this will sting,’ or not pleasant like, ‘you’ll probably scream until you pass out from the pain’?”
“…somewhere between those.” His apathetic tone isn’t helpful.
She snorts. “Fantastic. Add that to my growing résumé ofinterestingsupernatural experiences.”
I cross to her, sliding a hand along her arm, grounding us both. “I’ll walk you through everything. You won’t be alone. Not even for a second.”
Her smile softens, but there’s steel under it. “I know.”
Elias straightens, clearing his throat. “Before the witch gets here, there’s something else we should handle.”
Rowan looks between us. “What now?”
“Greet the pack,” Elias says. “The ones from Solara who’ve been helping keep NightShade running and safe.”
My wolf rises with a low hum of approval.Yes, they need to see her as we do.
Rowan lifts a brow. “Right now?”
“It’ll help,” I say gently. “They need to understand who you are. Not what the prophecy has written, not the rumors. Just you.”
She draws in a breath, squares her shoulders, and nods once.
“All right then. Let’s do it.”
