“In my pack.”
“What are you going to do with it?”
“I’m not too sure,” I admitted. “I’ll talk to Phoenix. He knows about this stuff. Better than I do.”
Caelen hesitated. “Are you sure that’s wise?”
I looked at him. “Why not? I trust Phoenix with my life.”
“I get that, I do,” he said quickly, “but listen—back in Sorrowsea, we have one of the largest libraries you’ve ever seen. My mother prides herself on her scholars, their records, their accuracy. Maybe we could find something there. Something older. Something even Phoenix hasn’t seen.”
“I mean, sure,” I said. “If you have the information, I’m happy to take it. But I’d feel wrong not telling him about it.”
Caelen shifted. “Your relationship with these men…”
“What?” I asked, voice snapping sharp before I could stop it.
He hesitated—then pushed on anyway.
“I mean… what even is it? What are you to each other?”
The frustration in his voice scratched something raw in me. My hackles rose.
“That’s none of your business,” I said flatly.
“I’m not trying to pry—”
“Youare.”
He looked like he wanted to argue, but I was already shaking my head.
“Look,” I said, quiet but firm, “those men—Slade, Leo, Phoenix… gods, even Thorne. They saved me. In more ways than I knew I could be saved.”
I paused, trying to find the words.
“And maybe I can’t define what we are. But you have to understand—they’re important to me.”
Caelen flinched. Just slightly. But enough.
“I’m sorry,” he said, voice lower now. “That was out of line.”
I didn’t answer right away. Just stared at the lake, watching the ripples, willing the tension to bleed out of my shoulders.
“I wasn’t trying to judge,” he added after a moment. “I just… I’ve never seen anyone look at someone the way they look at you. Like they’d burn the world if you asked.”
I blinked, then turned slowly to face him.
“They don’t look at me like that,” I said. A little sad. A little small.
“They do,” Caelen said. “I can’t believe you don’t see it.”
I laughed, soft and bitter, and shook my head.
“You’re crazy,” I said. “Look at me. I’m the biggest mess there ever was.” I gestured vaguely at myself. “Wearing a damndress makes me feel like I’m about to break out in hives. Believe me—they don’t think of me that way.”
At least, not anymore
Caelen sat back on his knees, watching me like he was trying to figure something out.
