Kai's POV
The door clicked shut behind us. The solid wood was a flimsy barrier against the world. Against Zeke’s suspicious glare. Against Malrick’s distant shadow. But for now, it was all we had. The room was exactly as we left it. Two cots. Two trunks.
A chasm between them that no longer existed. She stood with her back to me, her shoulders set in that new, defiant line. But I could feel the tremor in her energy. The adrenaline was fading. The shock was setting in.
The girl who had faced down rogues and walked back into the lion’s den was starting to unravel. I could smell it on her. The sharp, metallic scent of fear beneath the jasmine and frost.
She did not turn. Her hands, clenched at her sides, were white-knuckled. I remained by the door, giving her space. My own heart was a wil
