Celeste
Alec was on his knees beside me before I could breathe. His hand spread warm and steady between my shoulder blades. He did not ask what had happened. He rubbed slow circles into my back the way he had rubbed my back every night of my life I had needed him to.
“What the hell is going on?”
Darien. His voice was a blade with a shaking edge.
“Privileged information.” Barnabus’s voice was iron. “First, I need each of you to tell me, now, what you have decided about the Shadow Princess.”
“I will protect her.”
Alec, not looking up. Quiet. Certain. The words fell into the room and settled like a vow sworn before the Moon Goddess herself.
“I will too.” Leo. Steady.
Joshua turned his head to Darien. “Whatever he does, I do.”
Darien’s green eyes had not left me. The gold line in them
