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I clutched hard to the bone of my spine, willed it to be hard like steel.

“The council didn’t care until my parents started advocating and protesting. They used the Hartlock name for good, until they died. I want to do the same.” There was a knot in my throat. “I-I have this feeling, like I’m supposed to be here.”

Clay clenched his jaw and stared at Thorn. Waiting for his answer, like I did. Shadows flittered over Thorn’s face. I don’t know what I wanted. Confirmation I wasn’t crazy?

“Sounds like you've made up your mind.”

Inside me, there was a pit of snarling beasts that wouldn’t rest. When I closed my eyes, I felt Chase’s teeth on my innocence and the sting of Baylark Pack, who hadn’t been the saviors I thought they were.

Those were insignificant things in the face of Starhaven. Did I want to step out of the shadows and use my voice? The option didn’t frighten me like it used to, nor the weight of my name. I could use it like a weapon, for the good of others, instead of a shield to hide from the world.

“This city is in my blood.” I knew it like a shooting star across the sky. “Plus, I already dropped a teaser video. I’m not running away this time.”

Thorn’s eyebrow raised, and he shared an unreadable look with Clay. “I like to see you determined like this.”

I pulled my phone out and made a face. It was Lloyd, calling again. Clay snatched the phone from my hand.

“N-No, don’t—” I gasped as he answered the call.

“Tully.” Lloyd’s sigh rattled in the room as Clay put it on speaker. His voice wrecked my insides.

“Tully’s busy at the moment. Can I take a message?” Clay shot me a cheeky grin.

There was a rustle, and three more voices clamored down the line. After a brief scuffle, Pan spoke.

“Who the fuck are you?” Furious whispers chased his question.

I covered my mouth to hold in my breath. Pan sounded venomous, and Clay laughed in response.

“Tully didn’t tell me her ex had such a foul mouth.”

“Her ex.” That was Ajax.

“Four idiots who let the best thing that ever happened to them slip through their fingers. Sound familiar?”

Thorn rolled his eyes and drained his drink. But he didn’t leave. He wouldn’t admit it, but we all stared at the screen, wondering what Baylark Pack would say next.

“Put Tully on the phone,” Walden ordered with a growl, and I clamped my hand tighter over my mouth.

This was so immature, but my insides were on fire at the jealousy and frustration in their voices.

“Oh, I would.” Clay sighed, and his gaze twinkled with mischief. “But she’s indisposed at the moment.”

“W-what does that mean? Have you hurt her?”

“No more than you did.” Clay ended the call with an airy laugh and cut off the stream of expletives that crowded through the screen.

“That was juvenile.” I snatched my phone back, silencing the call that came through immediately. Clay had kicked a hornet’s nest and as soon as the call ended, another one followed.

“Oh, but wasn’t it so fun?”

I refused to answer. But as the phone continued to vibrate under my palm, I smiled and launched myself across the table to tickle him.

31

Pan

“It could be nothing.” Sybil, the voice of reason, attempted to calm us as Tully’s phone went dead.