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She side-eyes him and huffs indignantly. “First of all, you’re an Alpha. You’re supposed to fall all over yourself to help me,” she scolds. “Secondly, I don’t actually need towels, you muppet. I Saw you both breaking into that tosser’s room and thought I'd best intercept that trainee before he hauled you both to Gavran. So those towels?” She twirls a finger, gesturing toward the bundle. “They are now your problem.”

I smile and throw my arms around her in a hug, which she returns with equal intensity.

“Where have you been?” I ask, pulling back to look at her. “I haven’t seen you in days.”

“Yes, well… I knew you needed some time alone with your Mates, and I’ve been dealing with some shite back home as well,” she links her arm in mine as we continue through the yard toward the castle.

We’re less than ten feet away from the side door when Vaelenor comes running around the side of the castle.

No… he’s not running, he’s sprinting. Tossing frantic looks over his shoulder like the Grim Reaper is chasing him. He nearly runs right into Soren, who narrowly avoids the collision when he slams to a stop mid-step.

“What the fuck…”

I shake my head dumbly and spin, keeping my eyes on Vae as he snarls and turns sharply, and sprints straight for me.

For a moment, I think he’s trying to lead whatever he’s running from toward me. Then he skids to a stop right in front of me, and his eyes fill with relief.

“Idril. Thank fuck.” He bends over, planting his hands on his knees and taking deep, ragged breaths.

“What—”

“Listen,” he pants, craning his neck as he searches for… something. “Your⁠—”

A rolling yowl cuts off his words I’d know anywhere. My mouth curves into a grin, and I spin, turning my back on Vae right as a massive shadow shoots around the edge of the castle.

Shade is sleek and graceful, with a solid form honed for stalking prey. Despite his size, he’s silent as the night, muscles rippling with each soundless stride he takes, closing the distance between us.

His eyes are two gold coins, gleaming with smug superiority and focused on one person.

Vae.

He’s herding the Alpha, stalking his prey like a predator stalks a crippled gazelle. It’s blatantly clear he’s playing with his food.

It’s oddly… cute.

With no warning, Shade lunges, sprinting for Vae and skidding to a stop inches away from where he stands. A look of pure, unadulterated mischief replaces the predatory glean in his eyes.

“Shit,” Vae curses, face draining of color. “Shit, shit, shit, shit!”

There must be some kind of glitch or feedback delay between Vae’s brain and his body. One second he’s standing there, and the next his legs are moving in opposite directions. He scrambles blindly to get his feet under him and twists himself up even worse. His ass hits the ground, and he starts crab-walking backward.

He makes it an impressive six feet before tripping over nothing but air and sprawling on his back in the grass.

Deciding to take pity on him, I walk over and step between the two of them.

“Shade,” I murmur, trying to pull his attention away from Vae. Shade’s eyes dart to me, and right back to Vae.

Stubborn cat.

I have to acknowledge that part of me is enjoying this—seeing Vaelenor on the ground, with my huge cat looming menacingly over him. The part of me that aches every time I remember the way he and Dax treated me.

Then there’s the other—much, much smaller—part of me that kind of feels bad, knowing how terrified he is. There’s no way he could know that Shade isn’t actually going to hurt him.

“Idril,” Vae turns to me with pleading eyes. “Will you please call off your cat before⁠—”

Shade springs forward.

And drops a yellow, slobbery softball in Vae’s lap.