Jolie POV
The ride back from the Council chamber should have felt like victory. We'd won—I was officially recognized as Luna of the Iron Fangs, with no more challenges to my status and no more threats from Nightshade or the Council hanging over our heads. So why did I feel like I was about to shatter into a thousand irreparable pieces?
"You okay back there?" Ryder's voice cut through the wind and engine noise, carrying concern I could feel echoing through our bond.
"Fine." I pressed my cheek against his leather jacket, the familiar scent of him mixing with oil and road dust. The vibration from his bike traveled through my whole body, making everything ache worse than it had when we'd first left the Council chamber.
He didn't believe me—I felt his doubt seeping through our bond but merc
