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I tried desperately to ignore it.

I didn't care that she was sad. Or why.All that mattered was finding a half-dozen corrupted so I could get away from Kaiya and get the damn wolf under control.

I opened my mouth to tell her that, but instead, "What's wrong?" came out.

Damnit!!

She slowed to look up at me, suspicion scrunching her features.

I kept my expression carefully blank. I didn't want her getting the wrong idea. And I definitely didn't want her knowing how much the bond was affectingme.

Finally, she shrugged and turned back to the remains of the city.

"That building over there," Kaiya pointed at a nearby building with a giant hole exposing the crumbling interior. "That was Liam's grandmother's house. I woke up there after my first interaction with the Guardian."

She wore a strange look as she spoke — tired and … something that made my chest ache.

I shifted uncomfortably. "So … she died?"

"What? No." She shook her head. "But she was one of the prisoners I bonded to the creature."

"So, you're just feeling guilty."

"Well, yes … and no." She walked ahead of me. "My time here was short, but … memorable. It's where I learned Liam was alive, and where I was reunited with the Harlsteds. And" — she gestured to a crumbling path to the left — "down that road is where I met my first dragon."

She turned to face me, a sad smile on her face. "Dragons Peak was my first experience of the Isle, and I naively wanted to come back here someday." Her voice cracked. "To come back to how it was then, at least. Not this." She gestured widely. "I ache at its loss, and it's not even my home. I can't imagine how they feel."

I had to look away as her words shook something in me. It had been many years since I'd called a placehome, but I could still remember the pain at its loss.

Her gaze met mine briefly, and — while she smiled — I felt an ocean of sorrow crushing herthrough our bond.

She carried the weight of her emotions without a complaint or even a hint at their depth … her face betraying none of it.

An answering pain echoed in my chest, and the wolf and I reached out to her.

Perhaps if I —

NO!I yanked my hand back and grit my teeth.

Those feelings belonged to the wolf. Not me.

Her gaze traced my movements, and she shook her head. "I see you trying to walk that line, Tye — diligent spy for Frexin while trying to stay true to yourself. But it's not right. You're hurting people with your refusal to accept the truth." She looked at me solemnly. "Stop turning off your emotions like water from the tap, and let go for once."

Her words made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. More emotions were the absolutelastthing I needed.

"Don't try to give me advice, Witch," I snarled. "I'm just trying to fucking survive. You think I'd do any of this if I had any other choice?"

She shook her head. "No. But I do think you've stuck your head in the ground to hide from the truth. Youarea body mage — one of those Forsaken you hated so much. If you could just accept it, maybe you could finally find some peace."

My body burned, and I glared at her, angry for reasons I couldn't understand as she spun on her heel and took off down the road.

She had no fucking idea what she was talking about. I'd accepted the truth. I was cursed with fucking body magic that was getting fucking out of control and dangerous.

Dangerous for me. Dangerous for her. Dangerous foreveryone.

My mind slipped back to that night — that building — the closest thing I'd had to a home — burning to the ground, those fucking mages with bloody knives, and my mentor … nowhere to be found.

And she thoughtIwas being selfish and looking out for no one but myself?!