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“You’re bribing me to take care of myself by offering to let me take care of you.” Her lips twitch with what might almost be amusement. “That’s…surprisingly clever.”

“I have my moments. Rare as they may be lately. Do we have a deal?”

She studies me with that analytical gaze. “Deal. But with one addition.”

“I’m listening.”

“When we’re together like this…we talk. Really talk.” Her voice carries unexpected vulnerability beneath her carefully controlled tone. “No hiding behind science or sarcasm. Just…truth.”

“Alright.” The word emerges slowly. This commitment can’t be easily withdrawn. “Truth for truth.”

She nods once, accepting the pact with characteristic directness. “I’ll start. I haven’t been sleeping because every time I close my eyes, I see your face when you found out who I was. What I was.”

“Your turn.” Her hands resume their careful work on my wing, eyes focused on the healing membrane rather than my face. “Fair’s fair.”

“I’ve been checking your vital signs through the monitoring system. Marina’s been my spy when you’re out of range.”

Her fingers pause momentarily, surprise evident in the slight widening of her eyes before professional composure returns. “That’s…not what I expected.”

“You wanted truth.” My skin darkens with embarrassment at being caught in an act of concern despite my anger. “I can be furious with you and still not want you dead from exhaustion.”

“It’s complicated, isn’t it? Being angry at someone you still care about.” Her honesty doesn’t quite mask the vulnerability beneath. “Wanting to push them away and pull them closer at the same time.”

“Who knew mate bonds could be so infuriatingly inconvenient?” My tail curls with reluctant amusement. “Though I suppose humans have their own version.”

“We call it ‘emotional entanglement.’ Less poetic, but equally messy.” Her scientific precision carries a hint of warmth I’ve missed. “The data indicates separation is… suboptimal for both parties.”

“A very scientific way of saying we’re miserable apart.” My wings shift with grudging acknowledgment.

“Empirical evidence supports that conclusion.” She meets my gaze directly. “Though further data collection is warranted.”

“Is that your way of asking if we can try again? Despite everything?”

“Hypothesis: We function better together than apart.” The vulnerability beneath her analytical framing makes my chest tighten. “Pending your willingness to test the theory.”

My skin shifts through shades of uncertainty, but my tail moves without conscious thought, curling gently around her wrist. “I’m still angry.”

“As you should be.” No defense, just acceptance. “I won’t ask for trust I haven’t earned.”

“But?” I prompt, sensing the unspoken continuation.

“But I’d like the chance to earn it back.” Her fingers tentatively graze my tail. “One day at a time.”

The simple honesty of her request breaks through layers of protective anger. Not forgiveness—not yet—but possibility.

“One day at a time,” I agree, the mate bond humming with cautious hope between us. “Starting with you getting some actual sleep.”

Her smile, small but genuine, feels like the first ray of sun after an endless storm. “Deal.”

Chapter Nineteen

Blair

The sanctuary’s monitoring center pulses with tension as alarms flash across crystal-enhanced screens.

Recently, I met with Volt and the senior members of the Sanctuary to discuss how my knowledge of the hunters could help the next time they attack. I knew my father would never give up, and I wanted to help in any way I could.

It took some convincing to allow me in the video room that they use as the command center. Since there is no way for me to make contact with the hunters, they decided it would be safe to have me there.