Sera's Pov
The ranger station sat at the edge of nowhere, halfway between two territories that had spent years pretending the other did not exist. Old wood, a rusted roof, windows so dusty they barely let in light. No pack markings. No allegiance to anyone. Exactly what neutral ground was supposed to look like.
Riven had argued with me about it on the drive over.
"I go in with you," he said. "That's not up for discussion."
"If you go in with me, he won't say what he actually came to say," I said. "He'll say the version he's prepared for an audience."
"Then I stay close enough to hear."
"The back room," I said. "You stay in the back room and you say nothing unless I call for you."
He had gripped the steering wheel and stared at the road for a long moment.
"Fine," he said. "The back
