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The night was restless.
Kael didn’t sleep—couldn’t. The scent of Lucien’s wolf tooth burned in his mind, its faint metallic tang lingering on his fingers. He’d placed it on his desk, the way one might place a weapon before deciding whether to use it or bury it. But the truth was clear. Lucien’s disappearance wasn’t defection. It was betrayal wrapped in the guise of sacrifice.
Aria stood at the far side of the study, arms crossed, watching him pace. She didn’t ask what the tooth meant. She could see it in the way Kael’s shoulders were drawn tight, his every step edged with restrained violence.
“You’re thinking about going after him,” she said finally.
Kael stopped mid-stride, turning his head just enough to give her a sharp look. “I’m thinking about tearing him apart before the Hol
