Mary Ann’s POV
The journey to Mooncrest began before sunrise.
Modric insisted we travel in the same vehicle.
He called it a security decision.
After the ambush, no one argued with him when he doubled the guards, changed the route twice, and ordered patrol wolves to run ahead of the convoy. Kylian remained in Ironclaw to manage the council while Marek led the first group of warriors.
I sat beside Modric in the rear of the largest vehicle, close enough that our shoulders brushed whenever the road became uneven.
Neither of us spoke for the first hour.
The silence was not peaceful.
It was filled with everything we had refused to discuss.
The returned ring rested on my finger. Modric had noticed it at breakfast, and although he had said nothing, relief had moved through the bond.
I ha
