Lyssandra.
My head snapped toward the sound of the doors, heart slamming against my ribs. Jesse’s did too—his smug mask cracking for the first time as
Zarek stepped into the corridor.
He looked drained, pale as ash, like he’d just surrendered a piece of himself to the beast and barely crawled back. The cloak hung heavy on his shoulders, hiding what I knew lurked beneath, but his eyes—those sharp, storm-dark eyes—missed nothing.
They flicked between Jesse and me, lingering on Jesse’s hand still loose around my wrist from dragging me aside.
I pulled free fast, stepping toward Zarek, forcing calm into my voice even as panic clawed my throat.
Goddess, please let him not have heard. If he’d caught even a whisper of Jesse’s taunts, of my accusations, of the pup… he’d tear the halls apar
