"I'll dissolve the Circle before I let them touch you."
Brian's words hung in the air like smoke, heavy and dangerous. We were alone now—Rowan and his companions had swept out minutes ago, Dmitri following to ensure they actually left the compound. The medical wing felt smaller without them, the walls pressing in, the fluorescent lights buzzing their endless insect song. Brian stood by the window, his back to me, staring out at the compound grounds where crews were still clearing debris from the attack. His shoulders were rigid. His hands were fists at his sides. Through the bond, I felt his plan forming like storm clouds gathering—violence, swift and absolute, against anyone who threatened what was his.
I was what was his.
The thought should have comforted me. Instead, it made my chest
