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The garment had made it to Deimos from Io by a carrier just last week, and it may as well have been Winter Solstice with how she screamed. It was both invigorating and bittersweet to see it now. To see those robes and see her and Kai on that field before the Gate, before she realized how much she’d open herself up to him. How much she’d fall in love with him.
How the Wilds had nearly swallowed her whole.
Isla rested her hand on the glass box just below their silks. Six sets of claws and teeth, two slain by her and four by Kai, lay on velvet sapphire pillows. Such a brutal act on elegant display. When Isla had exited the Wilds, she’d been on the brink of death, unconscious, but Kai had ensured that the trophies she’d earned made it out, too, so she could have this moment she’d dreamed of. A small kindness he never owed her with their incomplete bond, but what should’ve shown her the man he was.
A shadow appeared in the corner of the glass, a figure slipping from the darkness of the room so carefully that she knew itwasn’tKai.
Heart ratcheting, Isla’s hand went to her side for a blade she didn’t carry. Fingers splayed for claws she could not summon.
Then they became a fist, solid and ready to strike.
Isla whirled, but the intruder knew her well. Too well.
Adrien caught her hurtling fist in a hand and smiled.
CHAPTER6
ISLA
For a moment, Isla could only stand there, jaw unhinged and fist in hand as she took in the Wolf Prince’s features. His raven-black hair and golden-green eyes gleamed in the streams of moonlight. With the way the darkness cut him, he looked so much like his father that it sent a tremor of rage down her spine. One that made her fear what she’dactuallydo if she ever saw Cassius again.
Adrien dropped his hand and, in turn, hers. “You and your mate truly are made for each other.”
Isla still didn’t speak, taking in his face carefully to banish the image of Cassius away—and to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. He looked...rough.Not his clothes, those looked fine, if not wrinkled and covered in smears of dirt it appeared he tried to wipe from his face and body. But his eyes—something broken lay within them.
Adrien began, “Are you—”
Isla lunged forward, wrapping her arms around him and effectively cutting him off. There was no need for questions yet, even if she had too many. The first being, what the hell was he doing here?
The tenseness of his muscles melted away with each passing second as he circled his arms around her waist, squeezing her tightly, resting his head atop hers. She was sure a smartass quip sat on his tongue aboutherneedinghimafter this time apart, but it was too obvious a lie.From how he hugged her right now, for some reason, he needed her. Needed a friend. With her and Sebastian here in Deimos, she couldn’t think of who else he really had otherwise.
Heartbeats passed where they didn’t move or speak. Isla sniffed, the earthy, rain-kissed scent of his body unmissable even without her animal senses, even if she hadn’t plucked a leaf from his hair. Had he been out in the storm last night? Had herunhere? There was no evidence of any Imperial Guard. Hell, no one seemed to even know he was here but Kai.
She leaned back, taking stock of his pursed lips, those eyes that held words he hadn’t spoken.
Letting out a deep sigh, she gripped his face between her hands. “You’re a dumbass for sneaking up on me like that,andyou look like shit.” Chastising. Motherly.
The smile that burst across his features sent a course of relief through her. “I wasn’t aware there was a party.”
“There’salwaysa party—I don’t even remember what this one is truly for.” Isla stepped back from him, not even thinking to worry if any of the dirt had gotten on her dress. “What are you doing here? Or better yet,howdid you get here without anyone seeing you?”
“When we left last time, I noticed some weak spots on your outmost defenses by Rhea’s borders. I’m guessing because you’ve collapsed a lot of your guard south towards the rogues. You don’t have many watches through the mountains between Ifera and Mavec, so I cut through those passes.”
Isla blinked and probably shouldn’t have been surprised or deigned to be impressed. “And the hall? There are people everywhere.”
“Tunnels,” Adrien said, as if it were obvious and was disappointed she didn’t figure it out. “Every Pack Hall on this continent has an underground tunnel system. These check another off my list. Only Mimas and Charon left. Maybe you should consider a few more sentries around here.”
Isla flattened her brows. “Any other faults in our pack’s protections?”
“I can try sneaking in again and let you know.”
“Not necessary. How did Kai find you?”
“I don’t know, but I didn’t make it three feet out of the room the tunnel spit me out in before he nearly gutted me.”
“Maybe next time, you’ll give us some warning before showing up, then.” Isla and Adrien turned towards the entryway, where Kai strode into the room, hands tucked into his pockets.He said to Isla, “And next time, I’ll suggest you leave right away—but then, you probably won’t even show up.”
Isla narrowed her eyes and subtly flipped him off from her folded arms.
