ARIA WINTERS
Kael’s already awake when I wake up. He's sitting beside me, and when my eyes open he's looking at me with the kind of expression I've never seen from him before. He looks so unguarded in a way that I know definitely has nothing to do with sleep or anything being extracted from him.
"Hey," I say, because it's 4 AM and I'm can’t think of anything else. Besides, this whole him realizing he’s my mate thing is still weird. Since he discovered, we’ve never really had the time to talk about anything. It’s always one issue or another. There’s always something.
"Hey," he says.
We're quiet for a moment. Outside, Shadowmoon is completely still. Even the night patrol sounds are distant.
"I need to say something," he says, finally.
"Okay," I reply, sitting up.
"I've been trying to
