Celeste
I woke to an empty bed.
Darien’s side was still warm but the indent of his body was already cooling. He had slipped away while I was sleeping, and something about the careful way the blankets had been pulled over me told me he had taken a moment to look at me before he left.
My wolf stirred, pressed her nose against the mating mark on my neck, and settled.
I lay there for a minute, staring at the ceiling. The Shadow Gladius was propped against the nightstand where I’d left it. The memory of those yellow eyes was still behind my eyelids, faded but not gone.
I got up. I grabbed the gladius.
I wasn’t going anywhere without it today.
I could hear voices as I walked down the corridor toward the dining hall. Darien’s voice, low and edged. Alec’s, tight with concern. Josh’s, quiete
