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“Yup,” I say. “We’ve had some intel tonight that the Children of Solace might know a little more about this camp than I want them to. Until reinforcements arrive, I want a presenceinthe tent with the human volunteers, not just outside of it.”

I turn my eyes back to Tommy as his smile grows.

“I could use an extra hand. You wanna…sleep over with the girls?”

He beams. “Yup.”

I turn to Amory. “You good out here until the guard shift comes?”

He laughs a little and nods too, clearly relieved to have permission to sleep in his own bed instead of on the floor in the nursing tent. “Yes, sir. You’ve got it.”

“Cool,” I say, clapping Tommy on the shoulder. “Go get your blankets. I’ll see you in there in a few minutes.”

Tommy grins at me and sets off for his tent at a jog.

I sigh and move forward into the tent, steeling myself for what’s coming next.

Nadia

I’m about three feet away from my bed, headed for the bathroom with my toothbrush clutched in my hand, thinking that maybe Colewasjust carrying his bedding around like some sort of weird wolf security blanket. But my steps falter when I hear the tent flap. I go still, my mouth dropping open when I seeColestepping inside, his stupid bed bundle under one arm.

Livid words stack up on my tongue as Cole walks quickly towards me. But he slips his hand calmly over my mouth, silencing them.

“Quietly, Nadia,” he murmurs, perfectly calm. “You don’t want to wake up the whole tent.”

“Cole!” I hiss, stepping back and smacking his hand away. “You arenotsleeping here!”

“Oh yes, I am,” he whispers, closing the distance between us. “I’m not letting you out of my sight until that further military arrives. Grace and Shayne too.”

“Youcannot–“

“Nadia,” he says, quite stern, his voice a very low and dangerous purr. “This is happening – your only choice now is whether it happens quietly or with theentiretent awake and aware.”

I go still, nearly shaking with my anger, as Cole takes a very calm breath. “After you,” he says, nodding toward my empty bed.

I huff, full of rage and out of options, trying to come up with something to say that will make himnotdo what I think he’s going to do and – mortifyingly – sleep at the foot of my bed like some kind of stray puppy!

Grace mumbles something in greeting as I clutch my toothbrush, my mind turning frantically as Cole starts to lay out his blankets on the ground at the foot of my bed.

But I come up with nothing.

“Am I allowed to go brush myteethon my own?”

“No,” Cole says. My eyes fly wide. “But you don’t have to take me.”

“What?”

“You can take Tommy.” I spin to see the other wolf guard starting towards us from the entrance, his bed supplies under his arm and a wide smile on his mouth. But when he gets close, his grin fades.

“Are we…not excited about our slumber party?” Tommy asks, grimacing.

“Nadia needs an escort to the bathroom,” Cole murmurs, reaching up for Tommy’s bedding, which he hands over. “I’ll get you sorted.”

“What’s happening?” Shayne asks, lifting her head and looking blearily around at us.

“Slumber party,” Cole says, turning to her with a smile.

Shayne gasps in delight, pressing her hands together.