Page 126 of A Sunwoven Ascent

Holden stared at him, then turned away and began pacing again, slower this time, more controlled. “Yeah. I understand.”

“You need to stay away. At least for now.”

“A few days will not fix this, Kaldrek.”

“I know,” he said quietly. “But it is all we have at the moment. Let me handle it.”

Holden gave a dry, humorless laugh, his attention shifting to the distance as Heidara ran ahead toward the Shaw estate. “Good luck with that, Alpha,” he muttered.

Then he shifted again, bones snapping into place, and took off after his sister.

Kaldrek remained still a moment longer. He had no solution, not a true one, and with the ball only a few nights away, time was no ally. So he shifted, surrendering to instinct as his body cut silently across the land. He ran without direction, without thought, until the world narrowed to breath, movement, and the steady rhythm of his paws against the ground.

Somehow, he found himself at the grove.

He slowed as the towering canopy came into view, its branches spread wide above him, sheltering the space beneath in sacred stillness. Night had settled fully now, the sky hidden behind leaves, the air heavy with something ancient and watchful. Kaldrek shifted back into his human form and stepped forward slowly. He had been wanting to come here alone.

And now he had.

The Solwyn Tree stood before him, vast and unmoving, its roots twisting deep into the soil as though they held the world together. Kaldrek swallowed. He had not forgotten what lurked beyond these lands. What hunted. What waited. He had a plan, a last resort he prayed he would never need.

But if it came to it, he would do whatever was necessary to protect his mate.

To protect his pack.

“Do you know who I am?” Kaldrek asked, his voice low against the stillness. “I carry her blood, but I am not her. I am not cruel.” He stepped closer, his gaze lifting to the tree. “Help me protect them.”

He did not know what he expected in return. A feeling, perhaps. Some kind of answer. Anything. Perhaps he only needed to touch it, to understand it. Slowly, he reached out, his fingers hovering just above the roots.

And then Evelyne’s voice crashed into his mind.

You have a great deal of explaining to do, and I am furious you are making me wait until morning.

Kaldrek paused.

Then smiled.

He drew his hand back, the moment slipping away as easily as it had come.

I love it when you are angry with me.

The teasing thought carried through the bond before he shifted again and disappeared into the night, racing back toward his pack.

***

Kaldrek sat on the leather couch in the Duskwood library, which he could already tell was one of Evelyne’s favorite rooms. She had been eager to show him the shelves, pointing out beloved fables and romances as though she had briefly forgotten why he was there at all. Cillian had been present too, but politely excused himself the moment Aurelia entered.

Poor thing. Kaldrek doubted any of this was pleasant for Cillian.

A servant set tea on the table. Kaldrek was becoming convinced southerners drank nothing else. After a few polite clinks of spoons against porcelain, he cleared his throat.

“Let us keep this short and simple,” he began.

“I truly do not believe there is much to discuss,” Aurelia interrupted smoothly, lifting her teacup for a delicate sip. “I feel perfectly fine at the moment.”

“You are not fine,” Evelyne said, leaning forward slightly. “You are very much on edge. Please continue.”

Aurelia sighed dramatically and set down her cup. “Then perhaps you can explain why Cillian has suddenly vanished. I swear, no one seems particularly eager to be near me.”