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Kings alive! She was so FUCKING infuriating!

I opened my mouth to tell her just that when a new set of emotions began pouring into me.

Joy. Concern. Relief —

They stopped me in my tracks.

Kaiya broke into a jog, moving towards an older couple across the square, and I could feel her smile.

I crossed my arms as the couple welcomed her — delight and excitement filling their faces as she dove into their welcoming hug.

My chest tightened …

The Witch had looked at me like that once — back on the ship. For the briefest moment, she was overjoyed to see…me.

The sudden longing for that feeling slammed into me, as if it were a creature trying to pull me under the water — forcing out all remnants of my logic and self-control.

I struggled against it.I don't want that. It isn't me. Those feelings were just more garbage from the damn wolf.

Garbage that would be gone once we finished this damn mission.

I just needed to focus.

"This isn't a social visit!" I yelled, glaring at the three of them.

Kaiya turned and gave me the middle finger, lips quirked in a rebellious grin, before returning her attention to the duo.

The older man sent me an unhappy glare while the woman grinned, curly dark hair bobbing as she whispered something in Kaiya's ear.

"I'm serious," I snapped. "Get to work!"

Chapter 35

Tye

The Witch rolled her eyes and gestured towards the camp's medical tent just ahead.

Perfect. If someone was corrupted enough to be bedridden, they'd be the ideal bait for the monster.

A vaguely familiar form poked his head out of the tent as she approached, giving Kaiya and the older couple a happy wave, then me.

Liam.

My jaw clenched, and the wolf perked up. I couldn't get a good read on the dragon rider mage, and the wolf was conflicted — half-convinced he was pack, and the other half a rival.

Liam obviously still cared for the Witch — so why all the theatrics around his supposed "death" back in Gleyma?

As the four of them moved into the tent, he saidsomething to Kaiya that made her laugh, and the wolf snarled deep in my mind.Mine.

I pushed the thought away.

She wasnotmine. She could do whatever she wanted withwhomevershe wanted.

And, if I ignored the wolf's possessiveness, I had to admit that I respected Liam's attempts yesterday at defending her despite the danger to himself. I'd heard the rumors of what he'd done on the ship, too — getting all those guards to protect her from Holden and the others.

Frexin had done a major "cleansing" of the guards because of it …

Fluttering blue wings on a rooftop across the way caught my attention, and I eagerly latched onto the distraction. The creature disappeared as I watched, a small green form taking its place …