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Sid bites her sleeve. She gasps. "Traitor."

I almost smile.

Then I see the bruised half-moons under her eyes, and I don't.

"You didn't sleep."

"I heard things."

The cold goes straight through me. "What things?"

"Whispers." She wraps both hands around the mug like it's the only warm thing left. "Everywhere."

I crouch on the step below her so for once she's looking down at me.

"What did they say?"

She studies my face instead of answering. "Why?"

"So I know what we're dealing with."

"There." Her voice tips up. "That. We. You keep saying we. You keep turning up. You keep knowing exactly which question to ask, like there's a list and you've had it memorized for months."

"Maren."

"No." She stands. Sid pours off her lap onto the step. The blanket slides. "I'm done."

"With what?"

"With you handling me." Her eyes are bright and furious and, under the fury, wet, which is worse. "You tell me I'm in danger and then decide I can't be trusted with what kind."

"I'm trying to keep you safe."

"From information?"

"Yes."

It leaves me before I can stop it. True and stupid at once.

Her face goes very still.

Idiot. My wolf, and for once we agree.

"That might be the dumbest thing you've ever said to me," she says.

"I know."

"At least we agree on something."

She heads for the walk. I catch her wrist. Careful. Loose. Never anything she couldn't break in a heartbeat.

She stops anyway.

I can’t help it. I pull her into me.

For half a second, she goes stiff against my chest, and I think I’ve pushed too far. Then her arms come around my waist and she holds on. Tight. Not polite. Not reluctant. Like some part of her needs this as badly as I do, even if she’s still furious with me.

I close my eyes and breathe her in. Her cheek rests against my chest, right over my heart, and the charged energy between us settles into a low, warm hum beneath my skin. My wolf goes completely still. No clawing. No demanding. Just a deep, aching recognition that makes my arms tighten around her before I can stop myself.