Cassian POV
Maelor had taken my words to heart. He understood hesitation was a luxury we couldn’t afford by dawn, we’d be gone.
Every moment spent lingering in the North felt suffocating, as if each breath wasted here robbed me of precious time I needed elsewhere. Too much waited ahead, and too little remained to accomplish it all.
We were halfway across the courtyard when a figure strode toward us with purpose Quillan’s Beta, Caelan. My guard rose instantly. The Blairs’ history was a wound not easily forgotten their vile attempt to barter Dravina to Quillan still burned in my memory.
Had Arixen already made good on that betrayal? The thought alone stoked fire in my veins, though I forced my face to remain impassive.
“Alpha Blackwell,” Caelan greeted with careful respect. I returned
