Without another glance, he stepped back into the moonlight, leaving Evelyne alone. But she refused to dwell on his words. If Alaric and everyone else could enjoy the night, so could she.
With newfound determination, she stepped out of her tent, grabbed a horn of ale, and headed for the fire. The steady beat of drums echoed through the night, and before she could second-guess herself, Alaricdarted to her, grinning, his bare chest streaked with painted swirls like the other men.
“I have no idea what I’m doing,” she admitted, leaning close to his ear to be heard over the music.
He just laughed and spun her into the firelight. “Then let me teach you.”
She downed the rest of her drink in one go, the warmth of the ale flooding through her, emboldening her. Her body loosened, her laughter light as she swayed with him, trying to follow his lead. The tension between them melted away, and she allowed herself to enjoy the moment.
New hands settled at her waist, guiding her in time with the music, and when she glanced back, she was startled to find Holden behind her.
“Just listen and let your hips move freely,” he said, flawlessly adjusting his movements to match hers.
The music thrummed through her veins, and time slipped away in a blur of moments—perhaps minutes, perhaps hours. It was the first time in weeks that she had truly felt free. The weight of her mission, her fear, her grief—it all dissolved, lost to the pulse of the drums and the warmth of eastern ale.
She felt it before she saw it, a heaviness settling over her skin. Turning her head, she found Kaldrek across the fire, his eyes locked on hers. He wasn’t just looking. He wasstudying. And judging by the intensity of his stare, he’d been watching far longer than she realized.
When their eyes met, he didn’t look away. Instead, he lifted his ale and drank with agonizing slowness, his gaze fixed on hers until a strange flutter stirred in her chest. Then, without a word, he turned and disappeared into the night.
“Fun, isn’t it?” Holden grinned, completely unaware of the shift in her mood.
She nodded, though her mind was no longer entirely in the moment.
Heidara and Alaric joined them, both flushed with exhilaration. “We’re shifting soon,” Heidara warned. “The elders will gather first and perform the ritual. Lots of chanting, but once it’s done, the pack will shift as one and take off.” She paused to glance between Evelyne and Alaric. “If you’re in the way, move. You do not want to get caught between us.”
Alaric touched Evelyne’s arm. “Come on. Let’s head back.”
But she didn’t want to leave. She wanted to see this. To witness the raw power of the shift. Still, she knew they had to prepare for the morning.
She reluctantly tore her eyes from the fire and followed him, casting one last glance over her shoulder. Whatever happened tonight, she felt it would be burned into her memory forever.
Chapter 29
“Arewe awful people?” Evelyne asked softly, sinking onto her cot with a sigh.
Alaric glanced over as he sat beside her. “Why would you say that?”
She stared at the floor. “Because we just spent the night laughing with the people who killed Reuben.”
The name landed between them like a blow. Alaric’s expression shifted, the lightness of the evening fading into something far more solemn.
“Evelyne… he wasn’t Reuben anymore. Or at least, he wouldn’t have been in a few months, maybe weeks, according to what Heidara told me.”
Frustration flared in her chest. “But they didn’t even give him a chance, Alaric. How can I hold on to any hope of saving Cillian if what they say is true? Doyouthink he’s already lost?”
“I don’t know. But I think we have to keep looking for him.” Alaric’s eyes met hers. “You said he fought this before, right? If the darkness took him once and he resisted, maybe… maybe he’s different.”
She told herself it was true. Sheneededit to be. Cillian wasn’t loud or fearless, but his strength had always run deeper than hers. If anyone had a chance to fight this—it was him.
She forced a slow breath through her nose, steadying herself. “Did you learn anything new?”
Alaric swallowed hard and nodded. “I did, but I’m not sure you’ll want to hear it.”
“Tell me, Alaric. We need to know what we’re up against.”
Alaric ran a hand over the back of his neck and exhaled slowly. “The magic doesn’t just control the mind. It consumes the body and soul. The darkness within evolves, changing them over time.”
She remembered Holden mentioning something similar, but she needed a deeper explanation. After a long pause, he finally continued.
