Nevara I was halfway through reorganizing the stack of reports Elena had brought me earlier when the office door opened and Thoren walked in looking deeply entertained by something. That alone immediately caught my attention. “Why do you look like that?” I asked suspiciously. He shut the door behind him. “Because apparently the universe looked at Kael’s current emotional state and decided it wasn’t chaotic enough.” I slowly lowered the report in my hands. “That sentence concerns me.” “It should.” He crossed the room toward me before leaning one hip against the edge of the desk. “So,” he said, “Reddick’s younger brother showed up at the gates.” My brows shot up instantly. “What?” “Yeah.” “Wait—actual brother?” “Actual brother.” I stared at him for a second trying to process

