Cassian's POV
"You could have warned me," Rowan said, dropping into the chair across from my desk without waiting to be invited, "before half the palace started whispering that you've claimed a mate overnight."
"I didn't plan for half the palace to see it happen."
"That's usually how these things go, in my experience. Plans and mate bonds rarely cooperate with each other." He studied me for a long moment, none of his usual humor reaching his eyes this time. "So. Is it true?"
I didn't answer immediately, which was answer enough on its own.
"Cassian."
"My wolf recognized her the moment I found her at the border," I said finally, giving voice to the words properly for what felt like the first time, even though I'd already admitted as much to Elowen, to Lyra, to myself in every quiet mom
