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Phillippe turned his attention to Renya. “Are you ready to do this?”

“Absolutely,” Renya said. “Where do we start?”

With one last warning glare at his brother, Grayden reluctantly tore himself away from Renya and headed back towards the cabins. Every step felt like he was leaving a piece of himself behind.

As he walked away, Grayden's mind was already racing with plans. He needed to find out what happened to the maps, to eliminate any threat to Renya and their cause. The weight of leadership settled heavily on his shoulders, but for once, he didn't feel alone in bearing it. With Renya by his side, he felt even stronger.

Grayden spent the morning coordinating with his men, reviewing reports, and strategizing their next moves. But no matter how engrossed he became in his work, a part of his mind was always with Renya, acutely aware of her presence in the camp.

When noon approached, he couldn't resist the urge to check on her training. As he made his way back to the clearing, he saw Renya sparring with Phillippe. Pride swelled in his chest at her determination, even as his protective instincts flared at the sight of her being thrown to the ground.

Grayden retreated reluctantly, reminding himself that this was for Renya's own good.

He went back to Phillippe’s office, pouring over the records and trying to see if anything looked off in their roster. Something that would explain the missing maps. His eyes searched the list of names, and then a sudden realization hit his mind as his finger traced a name.

Rage and fear warred within Grayden as he stormed back to the training ground, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. How could they have let a spy into their midst? How close had this impostor gotten to Renya?

Grayden approached, brandishing a piece of paper as he spoke.

“You picked up new recruits on the way here,” he said, thrusting the parchment at Phillippe. “Look at the name under the Lile family.”

“Sabin? What about him? He’s been a great asset.”

Grayden fumed, and he knew Renya could feel his anger trickling down the bond. She tried to calm him, but she was so tired from training with Phillippe that she could do nothing but feel his anger course through them both.

“Sabin Lile died three months ago in a hunting accident. Whoever that is, it’s not Sabin.”

Phillippe’s face instantly fell and he paled. “Oh shit.”

“You let a spy into our camp. We have to assume it’s a member of the Shadow Realm. How could you be so careless? And with my mate here? You know Cressida would do anything to get her hands on her, yet you put her in danger.”

“Grayden, I’m sorry, okay? I didn’t realize—”

“I’m tired of being the one who cleans up all the messes. This time, it’s your turn. Find him and question him. Then kill him. Immediately.”

With that, Grayden turned on his heel and stalked back to his cabin, his mind a whirlwind of fear and anger. He knew he had been too harsh with Phillippe, but the thought of Renya in danger clouded his judgment.

Alone in the cabin, the weight of everything crashed down on him. Grayden sank onto the mattress, head in his hands, feeling utterly defeated. He had sworn to protect Renya, yet danger seemed to lurk around every corner.

When Renya entered a few moments later, Grayden felt a mixture of relief and shame. He didn't want her to see him like this, but her presence was the only thing that could soothe the storm raging inside him.

“Honey, what's wrong?” she asked softly, and the tenderness in her voice nearly broke him.

Grayden sighed heavily, reaching for her hand like a lifeline. “I'm scared, Renya,” he admitted, the words feeling foreign on his tongue. “I'm trying to protect you the best I can from Cressida, and here comes another opportunity for her to know our plans and movements. I've allowed you to be taken twice now. What kind of man am I?”

“Grayden, you’ve saved me so many times. You protected me from the elements, from tygres…the list goes on and on. But you have to understand, as much as I love you being there for me and keeping me safe, I need to stand on my own two feet in this world. You can’t shelter me forever. Eventually I’m going to have to step into my role and play my part on this stage.”

“I'll always protect you,” he vowed, looking up at her with desperate eyes.

“Grayden, I need this,” Renya insisted, her voice gentle but firm. “I need to learn to rely on myself. The weak girl you rescued in the forest is gone. I'm no longer powerless. I'm no longer alone in a mysterious world. I'm home and I'm with my mate.”

Her words struck a chord deep within him. Grayden swallowed hard, nodding as he tried to reconcile his need to protect her with her need for independence. “I just can't lose you again,” he confessed, his voice raw with emotion. “I'm a man possessed. My thoughts, my feelings, my body...they all belong to you. Even my soul is yours and yours alone.”

“You won't lose me, Grayden,” Renya assured him, her conviction clear in every word. “It's you and me. Forever.”

As the last of the tension left his body, Grayden placed a tender kiss on her temple, drawing strength from her presence.

“Now, go find Phillippe and help him deal with this problem. And apologize. You acted like an idiot again.”