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His wolf didn’t want to fight.

It wanted toguard.

To circle her. Protect her. Drag her out of that dance and into his arms and tell her what he hadn’t been brave enough to say the last time they’d spoken.

But she’d made her choice tonight. And he wasn’t sure she’d welcome his interference.

Ezra said something else.

She nodded, politely, distantly, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

Jace caught it. So did his wolf.

Then she stepped back, excused herself, and slipped into the darker edge of the crowd, disappearing behind one of the floral arches near the old wishing well.

Ezra stayed behind looking smug. Too smug.

Jace turned to Logan. “Go listen in on whatever Ezra’s talking to his pack about.”

Logan raised a brow. “And you?”

Jace’s eyes stayed locked on the path Lyra had taken. “I’m checking on something else.”

He was already walking before Logan could respond.

The noise of the festival dulled behind him.

The grove quieted as he reached the curve of the old path near the vendors’ tents, where the lanterns cast long shadows and the air carried the scent of clove sugar and fresh grass.

He spotted her near the edge of the well, standing with her arms crossed, staring up at the stars like they had answers she could pluck down and hold.

Jace stayed still for a moment.

Just watched her.

Watched the way her magic curled at her fingertips like it needed somewhere to go. Watched the way her chest rose and fell, the stiffness in her spine, the way she shifted like she was bracing for something—even now, even alone.

She wasn’t relaxed.

She wasn’t at ease.

She wasn’tfine.

He cleared his throat as he stepped into the lantern light.

She turned, startled, but didn’t look surprised.

Only tired.

Tired, andbeautiful, and so deeply angry he could feel it radiating off her like wildfire.

But she didn’t run. She didn’t lash out. She just waited.

And maybe that was worse. Because Jace had the feeling that whatever happened next...

She was done playing the game.

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