Page 93

I study Cole’s handsome face as I think it through. And, I mean, he’sostensiblyhandsome – not just handsome tome. It’s just a fact of his being, like having dark hair and blue eyes.

“I know, it’s been a stressful night,” he murmurs, shaking his head softly, his perfect lips turning down in a frown.

And it’s not thatIthink they’re perfect – it’s just that in terms of symmetry and his features –

But I sigh and squish the thought, pressing my eyes shut and clenching my jaw, knowing that all my protests are useless.

Yes, he’s hot.

Yes,Ithinkhe’s hot.

And yes, I’mverywell aware that there’s well over six feet of dreamy royal lycanthrope all stretched out by my side. But I sigh andforcemy attention back to our important conversation. Becausethatis what matters.

When I open my eyes, Cole’s are open too, studying me.

I scowl at him for good measure. Cole laughs but doesn’t push.

“So, do you really think someone saw you tonight? Saw us last time? And they might now know where we are?”

He hums and nods. “We know that they don’t have the technology to find this camp with drones. But if theyaremonitoring the empty Children of Solace town with very secretive spies…” he shrugs. “They could have found us. And this camp of mostly human civilians is a sitting duck if they’re bent on revenge. I don’t think that revenge is thebestuse of their resources right now, but…”

“But if Slaken’s a sociopath and a narcissist,” I whisper, finishing Cole’s thought for him. “Then his actions become unpredictable.”

He nods, confirming that this is what he thinks, too.

I look off into the corner of the tent, lost in my thoughts for a few moments. “Don’t send us away, Cole. We’re doing such good things here.”

He doesn’t respond, and I look back down at him, my fingers twining in the thick, dark strands of his hair –

I tense and snatch my hand back to my side – when thehelldid I start doing that?

Cole works hard against a smile but doesn’t mention it. “I’m not promising you that, Nadia.”

I narrow my eyes at him.

“But I will promise to let you all keep working as long as it’s safe.”

“Okay, but not like…padded room, safe,” I say, nodding to him, accepting this, knowing that his wolf protective instinct nonsense isn’t going to let him give me more space than that. “Wartime safe. The ‘best we can do’ sort of safe.”

Cole narrows his eyes in turn and then nods, agreeing to it. “Dad is sending more military,” he murmurs. “So, it will be safer soon.”

“Shayne will be glad,” I murmur, shrugging. “More boys.”

He grins. “What about Grace?”

I take a deep breath. “Grace doesn’t really date.”

“Is it…not boys?”

I frown. “I don’t know what it is. She’s just never been interested in anyone, though she likes when Shay and I are – so it’s not her being anti-romance or anything. Just…not in her realm of interests. Sometimes I think she’s asexual, maybe.”

Cole hums, curious, frowning like he’s never considered that.

“None of your friends lean towards asexuality?” I ask, curious.

“No,” he says, holding my gaze with his pretty green eyes. “Everyone in my family is…very interested in romance.”

I grin. “I asked about your friends.”