Owen's POV
I watched Mary standing on the balcony, her silhouette backlit by moonlight, and I felt the familiar surge of helpless anger that had been my constant companion since the duel with Lydia. Through our mate bond, I could feel her anxiety, her fear about the Architects having part of her power, her guilt over patients she could no longer heal.
I wanted to take all of that pain away from her, wanted to fight her battles and protect her from every threat. But I had learned over the past year that Mary did not need someone to fight for her. She needed someone to fight beside her.
Still, watching her suffer was its own kind of torture.
"You are brooding," Lucas said from the doorway, making me turn. My best friend and beta held two glasses of whiskey, offering one to me. "I could f
