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Any amusement remaining from earlier disappeared.

I’d never forget watching Ash’s chest go still or the panic I’d felt before his body jerked and he dragged in another breath.

We’d all watched each other fall apart, but Ash was Ezra’s best friend. It affected him in ways it didn’t affect me and Zeke.

I understood why he was angry.

I just didn’t understand why he was letting his anger control him.

Nothing controlled Ezra except Cornaith—and even then, Ezra manipulated the situation in his favor as best he could.

“No one is saying that,” Ash said, dragging me from my thoughts. “But you don’t have to talk to her like that.”

“Someone needs to.”

“Why you?”

Ezra glanced at me. “Because I’m the only one capable of keeping her in line. The rest of you aren’t being led by reason anymore.”

I couldn’t say anything to that.

I knew what he implied—or at least I thought I did.

He knew Zeke and I were all in now, and while we weren’t bonded, our emotions were volatile, and my obsession with Raelynn clouded my judgment more than I’d care to admit.

I’d jumped off a roof for her, for fuck’s sake.

Though I knew I’d do it again if the opportunity presented itself.

I hadn’t known what would come of jumping after her. It wasn’t a conscious decision. I’d just… reacted.

I refused to lose her.

I’d wondered if my refusal to let her go was the reason my wings returned. Had Fate seen fit to give them back to save her?

Rae set down the cookie she’d only taken one bite from. “Who made you the final say?”

“What?”

“Who decided you were the one to dictate everything?”

“I’ve always—”

Ash took Raelynn’s hand. “He’s our leader. No one made him the leader. It’s just something we’ve accepted because not only will he take Cornaith’s place someday, but we recognize his ability to approach situations in ways we couldn’t or wouldn’t.”

“He also leads the Elyrdin Guard when on duty,” Zeke added.

Raelynn crossed the kitchen to look out the window.

“You may dislike me, but I won’t let you put yourself or my brothers at risk because you can’t accept there are rules to maintain order.”

I stiffened at the same time Raelynn did.

He might as well have quoted his father.

Cornaith had said Raelynn didn’t have to like him, but his word was law.

She spun around and glared at Ezra. “You’ll make an excellent replacement for your father. You’re just as much of an asshole as he is.”