The phone clattered from my hands. Hit the floor. Nobody moved to pick it up.
Aunt Clara. The only family I had left. Tied up. Terrified. Because of me.
“No,” Lycian said. Reading my face. “Absolutely not. You’re not going.”
“She’s my aunt. He has her because of me.” My voice sounded distant. Wrong. “I have to go.”
“It’s a trap. Obviously. He’ll kill you both the second you arrive.” Lycian grabbed my shoulders. Gentle despite his desperation. “We find another way.”
“There is no other way. He said alone. If I bring backup, she dies.” Tears burned my eyes. “I can’t lose her. She’s all I have.”
“You have me. You have this pack. You have a whole life here.” His hands framed my face. “Don’t throw that away.”
“I’m not throwing anything away. I’m saving my family.” I pulled back. Looked at
