Chapter Thirty five — The Night Before
The storm rolled in without permission.
Not gradual.
Not polite.
One moment Ironveil was quiet. Still. Holding its breath the way it had been for days.
The next—
Thunder cracked across the mountains like something breaking open.
Mara felt it before she heard it.
Her wolf rose sharp and alert under her skin, pacing, restless.
Wrong.
Something about the air felt wrong.
Not fear.
Not yet.
But close enough to taste.
She was not alone.
Caius was already awake when she sat up.
He was at the window. Shirt half-buttoned. Sleeves rolled. The storm light cutting across his face in sharp silver lines.
Watching.
Always watching.
"You feel it," she said.
Not a question.
"Yes," he said.
Simple.
Certain.
Another c***k of thunder.
Closer.
Za
