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She gets to her feet and picks up a candle from the table. “Let’s worry about that tomorrow. But I will be at your side, giving you whatever strength I can. Now you need to sleep.”

She leads me through another door into a bedroom and places the candle on a small table. The room is sparsely furnished, butit has a bed, which is all I need. I turn to face her, and she lowers her head and kisses my cheek.

“I’m so, so glad to have you back,” she murmurs. “Now sleep, and tomorrow we will talk some more.”

I wait until the door closes behind her, then I collapse onto the bed. I want to sleep, but my mind refuses to cooperate. It’s racing, chasing thoughts and worries and what-ifs.

I don’t remember the last time I slept well. It’s weird, but I thought the three years of amnesia was the worst thing that could happen to me. Then I remembered my life before, and in fact, those three years were probably the most peaceful I’ve ever known. And while Lissa and Pete were far from ideal, those years also brought me Josh and Zayne. My life before that was filled with loss and pain and a constant knowledge of what the future held for me—years spent being shaped into a weapon to destroy my own father. My life was not my own, just an instrument to cleanse the world. And I lived in constant fear that I would fail. It’s not easy growing up with the fate of the world on your shoulders.

I feel the familiar fear creeping over me, welling up from deep inside where it’s always waiting. I wrap my arms around myself and grit my teeth to stop the shivers. Nausea churns in my belly. I have found Hecate and while that’s what I’ve wanted—almost more than anything—it’s a step closer to the ultimate confrontation.

I force my mind away from that

Is it so wrong to want something of my own? Something good amid all the horror that I know is to come? I sit up and blink in the dim light, the candle still flickering by the bed.

Without giving myself time to think it’s a bad idea, I roll to my feet and pick up the candle, then head out of the room. The outer room is in darkness, but as I tiptoe through it, the candle held infront of me, I sense movement. I turn and see Hecate seated in the corner of the room.

Neither of us speaks.

I retrace our footsteps from earlier, and seconds later, I’m standing over Khaosti’s bed. He doesn’t look as though he’s moved at all. I tug back the sheet and slip in beside him, breathing in his hot masculine scent—spice and something musky and feral. It calms my mind. I snuggle closer, half expecting him to wake, but he’s out cold. I slide my hand across the bare skin of his waist—it’s like hot satin over rock-hard muscles—and settle my head in the crook of his shoulder. My breathing matches his, and my heart rate slows. Within a minute, I’m asleep.

I wake at some time in the night, soft fur beneath my palms. My fingers curl into it, and I blink open my eyes. Amber wolf eyes stare into mine. Fury is back.

I smile, and a sense of peace fills me, and I go back to sleep.

Chapter 24

When Everything is Going So Well

“Where did you sleep last night?” Hecate asks as I push open the door to her rooms. Her eyes narrow. “Or do I need to ask?”

“Probably not.”

I’d left Khaosti sleeping, once again back in human form and looking better than since we freed him. Then I snuck out to the stables to check on Stella. She's good, healing well. But I’ve played hooky long enough. Time to get to work. After breakfast.

“I’m hungry,” I say hopefully.

“You’re always hungry.”

True. I sniff. “I have a healthy appetite.”

“Then let’s go feed you and afterward we can get down to work.”

“Super,” I mutter.

“I left some clothes on the bed for you.”

I glance down at myself. I’m still wearing the purple robe I put on after my shower. Clothes would be good. On the bed, I find an outfit similar to Hecate’s but in black. Yay, my color. Fitted pants, and a loose shirt, boots. And next to the bed is Nightfall. Once dressed, I head back, and Hecate looks me up and down. “We’ll get you fitted for some armor later, but you’ll do for now.”

Armor?

I’m not even going to think about why I need armor. Best to just take things one at a time. First thing—breakfast.

I follow Hecate out of the room and down a nearby narrow stone staircase that leads into a lovely airy kitchen with white walls, a stone floor, and doors opening onto a small courtyard, where the sun is shining. And best of all, all my favorite people are here—Josh and Zayne and Khaosti, who glances up almost warily as we enter.

Josh jumps to his feet and runs around the table and leaps at me. I wrap my arms around him and hug him close. I catch Zayne’s gaze, and he grins, and I grin back. We made the right decision to bring Josh here.

It comes to me that in that moment, I feel…happy. Against all the odds, I’d rescued Khaosti, we were all still alive, we’d found Hecate, for the moment we are safe and best of all—hey, I never said I wasn’t shallow—breakfast is waiting for me. I let out a huge sigh. Maybe that’s the way to get through life, just recognize the good bits when they happen. And enjoy them. Live in the moment.