Her fingers tighten around the pen. “What do you want from me, Ethan?”
You. I want you.
“No one else is here. You can stop this.”
“Stop what?”
“Pretending that nothing happened between us at the pond last night and, before that, right there in your bedroom.” I gesture between us. “Thatwedidn’t happen.”
Her brows furrow. “There is nowehappening.”
“Really? Because the scratches on my back say otherwise, and they’re not from training.”
The pen snaps in her grip. Ink bleeds across her fingers, dark as the flush creeping up her neck.
“That was a mistake.” She shoves back from the desk, moving to grab tissues from her nightstand. “One I don’t intend to repeat...again.”
I watch her scrub at the ink stains with more force than necessary. Part of me wants to go to her and still her hands. Another part of me knows better.
“What happened between when I left for the infirmary and now?” My voice is quieter than I intend. “Did someone say something?”
The scrubbing stops. Just for a heartbeat. Then resumes.
“Nothing happened. I simply came to my senses.” She tosses the tissues into the trash, still facing away from me. “Whatever you think is between us, it needs to end. Now.”
What Ithinkis between us?
The last thread of my patience unravels.
“Turn around. Please.”
“You don’t get to—”
“Just look at me when you say that. That’s all I’m asking.”
Slowly, she pivots. Her shoulders brace like she’s preparing for battle, every inch of her daring me to push the issue further. But those golden-brown eyes skitter away from mine for just a fraction of a second.
There it is. The tell. The sign that I haven’t been imagining how she feels about me.
“You know how much you mean to me, Rhiannon.” Laying out the bare truth without a punchline to hide behind is just about as comfortable as wearing my skin inside out. “It’s not a secret that I like you, and I won’t apologize for it.”
“You should.” Her words are flat and final.
“Then tell me. Tell me every reason why this can’t work, and I’ll stand here and listen to all of them.”
“You want a list?” She laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “Fine. Human-Lycan bonds are forbidden under Clarion law. The penalty is death, for both parties.” Her throat works around the worddeath. “The Alpha King could order your execution tomorrow, and there’s nothing anyone could do to stop him.”
I don’t move. I don’t flinch. I just wait.
“You’re fragile. Human. Every creature in this realm could kill you without breaking a sweat.” She drifts toward me, and I don’t think she realizes she’s done it. “The pack will never accept a human living among them. And I—”
Her words stall, half-formed. “After everything that’s happened with Xander, I’ve finally built something here, a reputation that has nothing to do with being his almost Luna. Do you think I haven’t considered throwing all of that away to be with you?” The confession spills out before she can stop it. Shock flashes across her face, and she abruptly steps back like she’s touched a flame. “I wouldn’t be able to keep my position. What do you think would happen when the pack finds out their Commander’s chosen the forbidden human?”
“And those are just the consequences for us.” Rhiannon’s on a roll now, her composure cracking. “We’re supposed to be in the middle of peace negotiations with the Shaman. The Shaman who literally cursed us for centuries. The summit hangs by a thread. If this falls apart, treaties collapse. Wars start. People die.”
“So we’ll be careful.” I step closer. I’m not trying to be flippant. I want us to make the choice to make this work. “You and me, we’ll rewrite the rules. We’ll make our own fate.”
Her fingers lock at her sides. She finally meets my gaze, her eyes blazing gold. For one breath, I swear she’s leaning toward me.
