Chapter 116

Kai’s POV

We had dropped off Briar back home. Made sure to increase the wards of protection after Slade’s betrayal, layering them with both our magic and some ancient Lycan runes I hadn’t used since the war. The children were safe with Marcus and a full guard detail, but leaving her behind still felt wrong.

"She’s going to hate missing this," Kylan said as we reached the forest edge where we’d shift.

"She’ll hate being used as political leverage more," I replied, already pulling off my shirt. "The High Council doesn’t summon people to have friendly conversations."

"Besides," Kieran added, his voice tight with barely contained anger, "after what happened at the hot spring, she needs rest."

The memory of last night hit me like a physical blow. The way she’d responded to all three of us, the sounds she’d made, how perfectly she’d fit between us. But more than that, the way she’d finally seemed to fin