Danny burst into the room at the worst possible moment. "Boss! We''ve got all three of the rogues in custody."


    I grunted in response, exchanging a nce with her before turning back over my shoulder. "Just as I thought."


    "The two who attacked you and Kennedy are badly beaten. Note to self: never cross Be when he''s fired up about Luna. Greta caught the third one scouting around in the woods. None of them are talking yet, so we might have to get a bit more... persuasive."


    I wasn''t sure if Danny realized he''d interrupted us and simply didn''t care, or if he was so ustomed to my readiness to consider rough methods on prisoners that he just expected it. He stood there, eyes fixed on me, waiting for a reaction.


    Kennedy remained facing the window, nestled in my arms, silently listening, her breath steady but tense, waiting to see what I would decide.


    "Give me a few minutes," I said, raising an eyebrow at Danny. He returned the gesture with a subtle wiggle of his brows and then backed out of the room deliberately slow, almost as if savoring the moment. Once the door clicked behind him, I pulled Kennedy closer, pressing her firmly against my chest, wrapping my arms around her like a shield. I couldn''t bear the thought of being apart from her anymore.


    "I need to find out if this is connected to the attack yesterday," I murmured, my voice low and serious. "If it is, you''re going to be really mad at me."


    "Yesterday? What attack? When did that happen?" She turned slightly toward me, still avoiding eye contact but not pulling away. I took that as a small victory.


    "Yesterday, we set a trap for ude and his crew. They thought you were in the car, so they ambushed it. That''s why we left so quickly. Remember, you can mindlink." She gave a single nod. "Between that, the attack on you while you were running, the convoy ambush bringing you here from Silver Crescent, and now this—someone''s definitely targeting you. What we don''t know yet is why. What their endgame is." I pressed my forehead gently against hers, closing my eyes to steady my breathing.


    "It''s taking everything in me not to lock you down in the house. But you know why we can''t. There''s a real threat out there, and we don''t know who''s leading it or how they''re getting information. ude''s involved, but he''s not the mastermind, and he''s smart enough to keep his hands clean, at least on the surface. Please, stay inside for the rest of the evening. Let us get some answers first."


    "Will you tell me everything you find? The whole truth? Even if it''s boring or really terrible?" Her voice was soft, vulnerable.


    I nodded and kissed her gently on the forehead. I hated every second of this uncertainty, but if she could stay strong, so could I. The thought of her in danger twisted my gut.


    "Do you want extra protection here? I know you can handle yourself." I raised my hands in surrender as she opened her mouth to reply. "I don''t even let my warriors do patrols alone. Backup is always necessary. Your gamma is going to be glued to you for a while—get used to it. But do you want someone else, too?”


    She searched my eyes, and I couldn''t tell what she was looking for. After a long moment, she seemed to find what she was after and nodded. "An extra person would be good. Especially if something happens here. One can stay with me while the other handles any attackers. I won''t be a liability or a distraction. Be''s attention shouldn''t be split."


    A surge of protective fury raced down my spine. No one, nothing should be able to touch her here. The fact that she was already epting this harsh reality lit a fire inside me, pushing me to act faster.


    "Stay in the packhouse, away from the windows. And yes, I know how ridiculous that sounds given theyout. I''ll be back as soon as I can, and then we''ll finish our conversation."


    I kissed her again, unable to get enough of the softness of her lips against mine. My resolve was cracking, and I knew I wouldn''t be able to resist much longer. I needed all of her,pletely and utterly. But thest thing I wanted was for my selfishness to cause her any more pain.