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Adriel tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I know you hate discussing The Order, but there’s one more matter of business we must address.”

Juniper drew back at her serious tone. “What is it?”

“I plan to send a letter to Eleazar. He needs to know what happened to you, Juniper. The Council must be questioned, and whoever committed those despicable acts against you must be held accountable. I will not let their conduct go unpunished.”

“What happened to passivity and forgiveness?”

“Some wars are worth fighting. If they can do such vile things to you, no female is safe. Predators, like any storm, must be confronted head-on.”

She grinned. “Like the buffalo face the rain.”

Adriel nodded. “I’ll fight this battle for you because I am yours and you are mine. I claimyou, Juniper Tempest, and offer protection to you in all things.”.”

When Juniper pressed a kiss to her mouth, lips were wet with droplets, her heart felt whole again. Adriel pulled her tight, and the current drifted them out to the sea where they lost themselves in the pleasure and tranquility of this magical place. There was no fear, only hope. And as foreign as that concept might seem to both of them, they surrendered to it easily, like a warm, overdue welcome home.

CHAPTER 38

“Can’t sleep?”

Dane’s eyes jolted from the book to the door. “You startled me.”

“Sorry. Immortal habit.” Lazarus crossed the study and looked down at the desk where Dane had been hunched for hours. Pulling the old book across the leather surface, he turned the cover to read the spine. “You’re looking for information on the shadow-wolf?”

Dane sat back with a huff. “Unsuccessfully.”

“Their lore is very guarded. Even seasoned immortals cannot enter the mind of a shadow-wolf unless welcomed in. And there is no hope for reading them once in wolf form.”

“All these rules,” Dane grumbled, picking at his fingernail. “Everything’s so absolute until it’s not.”

“Life is full of exceptions, son.”

He sagged in defeat. “Andnever good ones.”

Lazarus lowered into the wingback chair across from the desk. “Don’t shortchange yourself. You’re still young. Others would be foolish to underestimate you.”

“Because I’mdraugr?” He turned his face in shame. “I hate thathe’sstill a part of me.”

“We all come from something, Dane. No one gets to choose. But understanding our genealogy can unlock many secrets.”

“Like what a monster I am?—”

“Enough,” Lazarus snapped, surprising Dane. “We’re all capable of becoming monsters. It’s our self-control that determines the outcome more than anything else—including whatever our DNA claims. You’ve only just become a man. Give yourself time to unravel what that means.”

“It means nothing.”

“Doesn’t it? You have a half-brother.”

“So?”

“Christian is also partdraugr.”

“Yeah, and he’s a total asshole. Now, I see why.”

Lazarus cocked a brow, looking unimpressed. “Trust me when I tell you, Dane, thedraugenare often haunted by the past. They get lost in it and miss lifetimes of everything the present world offers. You can either dwell on the unchangeable or put your energy elsewhere. If you don’t like the destiny you’ve been dealt, why don’t you work on designing a better future for yourself. No one is stopping you.”

“I know you’re right.” He couldn’t workthrough the anger pumping inside of him. He felt like there was a hurricane under his skin.

Lazarus moved to the wall covered in bookshelves and searched the spines. “There is one story you might want to read.”