the tension radiating off of him, the guarded, almost desperate energy that crackled in the room. Yet, despite his warni

this time with more conviction. "I

if he were searching for the truth in her words. "You think that because you heal others, you can heal me

ain to their very end sometimes. Healing was not just fixing broken bodies but healing hearts, too. Kael, all anger and darkness,

d quietly. "You just have to trust

lied far too well to herself, too. She had been running from shadows of her own past. Hiding behind her healing skills and

nsed into something that neither of them could define. His breathing slowed, something inside

nally, his voice a low growl. "I have spent

light at first, growing firmer as the muscles in his body tautened in response to her touch. "I

ep people away but for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to push her away. Maybe it was the vulnerability in her voice, the sincerit

s wounds were fresh, and the healing process required much more time. Standing to tend it, she wiped her hands on the cloth, every one of her m

od at this?" Kael asked

p, looking back at him over her s

rely," he said. "But there is something more. Something inside you,

ge I grew up in was always on the verge of a battle. But I learned my way of balancing within the

when he also had peace. It had been years since he felt that way. He sat down

own beside him. The presence of his eyes on her was heavy an

a barely whispered. Her voice was barely audi

ring the end to a reign of darkness or stand against it. It's been hidden for centuries.

voice low but urgent. She could fe

, his eyes darkening. "The ones who branded me. The Shadowmoon Pack. Th

er eyes searching his fa

am anymore. But I do know one thing. I can't run forever. A

ldn't quite name yet, but it stirred in the pit of her stomach every time their gazes met. There was

ael," she said softly, her voice f

RT

of the tempest approaching it. Peace at this morning was like fragile g

nd yet, for everything, he couldn't walk out the door. It was something about being here with Lila, t

getting closer.

growing louder with each passing moment. His heart hammer

ure of worry and confusion. She hadn't heard it-the ca

d, as if his voice was

inging it over her shoulder, drawing Kael tight against her o

ters ar