“No.”
I stepped to the middle of the corridor.
Thane moved with me.
We blocked the nursery door with our bodies.
I reached for Pluto out of pure instinct.
Nothing.
The empty place in me answered with silence so deep I almost staggered.
Not now.
Please, not now.
I needed him.
I needed the wolf, the strength, the certainty that came from not being only a boy with bloody hands and too many plans.
Nothing.
Fine.
I swallowed the panic and forced my breathing to steady.
I had managed men twice my size in fight clubs by smiling at the right time.
I had talked Keres out of killing people he absolutely had reason to kill.
I had watched Thane bleed and known exactly which lie would keep him on his feet.
I could handle Eden.
Couldn’t I?
The thought tasted like arrogance.
Or prayer
