VAREK:
The fire still burned low in the hearth. Its embers cast a golden haze across the stone floor, flickering like a heartbeat that refused to be still.
Cassian stood in the doorway. His brow furrowed, arms folded across his chest like he held back a rage so loud he feared it might wake Ariane if he let them fall to his sides.
“They couldn’t cross,” he said finally, his voice like gravel. “Your men. The border repelled them. Some sort of old warding—Kaelen’s doing, no doubt.”
I clenched my jaw. Of course, he would—possessive bastard. Even from a distance, Kaelen played his games—subtle lines drawn in ancient magic, keeping his kingdom sealed and his secrets tighter.
“Then I’ll go myself,” I said, rising from the chair beside our bed. My voice was low, and my decision was final. “He
