I double checked my rising bag, making sure all blinder meir focked away securely. Lall thing I needed was a dagger slicing through fabric and lea on the way home. The afternoon sun hit the Academy urtyard at that golden hour angle that turned everything out, a mark contrast to the brutalbat. drills we''d just wozpped upk
H practically tackled me from behind, her arms locking around my waist. "Next week''s group testini -don''t faker"
I spun armand, raising an rychres. "And what else am I supposedly not forgetting
"Seriously?" She rolled her eyes with the dramatic ir only E could pull off "The Moon Festival everyone knows Steven''s back."
and tall, Mond, and royalf Dort y dunch -
My fingers twitched toward my cor, making site the mark stayed bilden. That damn thing had been shifting from Jacksons silver to unmething else wa warm gold that seemed to pulse whenever he got close.
"We hung out a couple times. Nothing earth shattering." I muttered, shahing my bag to the other shoulder.
E snorted. "Yeah, and I meenlight as the Goddess herself"
If the only knew how messy things really were. Since that night with ke-God, that night that reyed in my head like a finvorite song stuck on repeat- we''d done this awkward dance around each other. Professionally polite in public, carefully distant in private. Then there was Steven, who''d kissed me before everything went to hell. Nice enough, but nothing like the wildline that zed through me when ke touched
"Steven''s cool," I
with a shrug. "But I''ve got enough on my te"
"What-teaching some rich kid how to punch? E leaned in, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. ''Do you have any idea how many she wolves would trade ces with you in a heartbeat? Alpha heir material doesn''t just fall into yourp every day."
I kicked at a loose pebble. Trust me, that spotlight burns more than it tters." “Hopeless,” she sighed, giving my shoulder a light show. "Look, if he asks you to the festival, you''d be an idiot to say no. It''s only the most romantic night in wolf culture, but whatever."
cause stuffy ceremonies are totally my scene," I shot back, shaking my head. "Plus, Lucas''s training"
*Right, because
"How are you holding up?" E cut in, her yful tone vanishing. "?nce... you know."
My muscles locked up before I could stop them. The silver burns had healed fine, but the other scars-i
-being drugged, feeling my body betray me while my mind screamed in protest, that bone-deep terror-those weren''t going anywhere soon.
"Burns healed," I said simply. "Sleeps still a work in progress."
"Whenever you want to talk..." She let the offer hang in the air.
I nodded, grateful but eager to shift gears. "Gotta jet. Lucas is waiting."
"One day," E''s face cracked into that mischievous grin 1 knew meant trouble, "you''re gonna spill what really goes on in that mansion that''s got you walking around in a daze."
It crawled
Heat
I up my neck. "I teach a kid to fight. That''s the headline."
"Sure," sheughed. "And that dreamy look you get has nothing to do with a certain stored Alpha with shoulders that don''t quit."
"There''s nothing" I started 100
A sleek ck carriage with the Silverpeak crest rolled up to the Academy gates, cutting me off. Instead of the mual stone faced driver, Sephia''s blonde hea popped out, bright as sunshine.
"Aval" she called, waving Finally tracked you doen!"—
I watched, momentarily freeen, an kes daughter hopped garefully from the
carriage and heated our way. After what and bed
in that cer, facing death side by side-umething had shifted batire us. Something neither of us had expected.
"Sophia?" I Blinked, "What are you doing here?
She wrapped me is a quick hug, smelling of expensive perfume and safety.
Tomised Father to let me y chauffeur instead of seriding the
E''s eyebrows disappeared into her hairline, fascination written all over her face.
I shot her a printed look.
"See you next week," I said, my tone making it clear the conversation was over. She backed away, grinning. "Remember what i said?"
Once
e E was out of earshot, Sophia''s bright smile dimmed. Teels like we haven''t really
"How''s recovery treating you?" I asked quietly, scanning our surroundings out of habit,
"The physical stuff''s fine." She lowered her voice. "But I still wake up thinking I''m back in that cer sometimes. Her ble eyes-sol like her father''s searched mine. "If you hadn''t been there with me..
"You''d have figured something out," I said, squeezing her hand. "You''ve got more steel in you than you know."
"That ce changed things," she said, holding onto my hand. "Before that night, I didn''t have anyone I could really trust. Not like this."
Something warme bloomed in my chest. For someone who''d built her life around staying detached, having Sophia friendship felt surprisingly right-plicated as hell given my feelings for her father, but genuine.
"I had this idea," she continued, her eyes brightening again. "Instead of heading straight back to the mansion, we could take a little detour
I nced at my watch. "Lucas is expecting me-
in with a dismissive wave. "Told Father we needed to hit the trading zone. He
rescheduled Lucas forter."
"Already handled," she
e cut in
My eyebrow shot up.
"ke actually agreed to that? He''s been watching you like a hawktely."
She pointed toward a second carriage parked down the street. "Tyler and the security detail are our shadows for the day. After what happened... well, Father''s not taking chances."
I spotted Tyler''s broad shoulders by the second carriage, his eyes constantly scanning for threats. Ar least ke was serious about keeping het safe.
"Need to grab some things for the Moon Festival, Sophia exined, already steering me toward her carriage. "Could use a warrior''s perspective."
"Why me?" I asked, not bothering to hide my suspicion.
A sly smile curved her lips. "Because I need to look elegant but still battle-ready.
Plus," she added casually, "Steven mentioned you''ll be hispanion for the evening."
I felt my steps falter slightly. "Steven said what now? I asked, blinking in surprise.