g the walls with streaks of sunlight. Eva blinked against the

, and her thoughts were a tangled mess, weighed down

was alive with movement, the wind swaying the trees as birds darted between branches. It should have been ca

quiet precision. Dominic stepped inside, his movements deliberate yet u

observed, his voi

eyes narrowing.

though his expression rema

on the small table by the window. Removing the dome, he revealed an assortment of

o eat," he

move. "Why

ing. "Because you're in our care

pulling the blanket tighter around herself. "I didn

ut his voice softened. "No one

hakable truth, made her anger flare. "

he didn't rise to her bait. "

preamble. He radiated a casual confidence that fille

e greeted, flashing he

t him. "Not

dened. "We'll

rned, his voice ed

d. "She's part of this now. Migh

d. "This is

ugh his smile didn't waver

tomach churn. She looked away, stari

he said to Kael, his tone clipped. He turned back to Eva. "W

h purposeful strides

studied her. He moved closer, lowering h

t it. This is overwhelming. Hell, I'd probably

ted. "Yo

got to trust us. The world isn't safe for someone like you. If you

, her voice trembling despite

ally serious. "No. It's reality. You're valuable, Ev

ry of the rogue attack the day before silenced her. She hugged he

, a knock sounded at the door. This

he said, his voic

Eva, then stoo

couldn't stay here. Whatever bond they claimed to have, whatever danger they believed surrounded her,

ating. She spotted a set of clothes folded neatly on a chair-a sweater and joggers, clearly left for he

rop to the ground below made her hesitate. She turned to the door instead, pre

he only sounds coming from the distant crackle of a fire and the faint murmurs of the br

rt leapt when she spotted a large set of doub

pulse racing with every step. F

somew

nd cold, stopped

rged from the shadows. His silver eyes glinted with so

just plan

g closer. "If you're going to li

es. "You can't keep me here.

y. "If the rogues didn't kill you, they'd use you

didn't want to admit it. "I

oice sharper now. "But the bond is wh

strated tears. "You don't get it. I don't want t

whisper. "You think we wanted this? To be tied to a stranger we barel

her off guard, he

t whether you accept it or not, you're part of our

or a moment, neither of them spoke, the silen

r, and she turned to see D

asked, his dark eyes flicki

sander said simply, his

ough his hair. "You're nothing

ou can't keep me pris

his voice firm but calm. "If you leave, you'll be hun

s. Fear, anger, frustration-it all bubbled t

, her voice cracking. "

ady. "Because you're Moon-Blessed. And that makes you

lightly. Before she could collapse, Kae

red, his voice u

vision swimming. "I don'

a promise. "But you need to trust

on overtaking her resistance. Fo

-