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His jaw tightened.

"Don't tell me … did she demote you to be mybabysitter?"

He didn't answer.

I shook my head, torn between laughing at his misfortune and cursing out the woman. Not only was Inow working for Korym and hunting relics for Frexin, I was also going to havehimfollowing my every move.

Forsaken hells.

The bond surged, and I cursed it for the tenth time that day.

"Just follow the rules and stay close to me," he said. "The bond will help you regain your strength faster. And the more you cooperate, the sooner we'll be free of each other."

Right. That scientist would have reported my sudden change in strength to Lady Frexin. Of course she'd connected the dots like I had.

And if she wanted me to catch that monster, she'd need me in peak condition … something only accomplished when mymatewas near.

"Fine," I said. "But stay out of my way. I work alone."

"Glad to."

"Good." Jutting my chin, I focused on the hall in front of us. It looked the same as every other hallway … except for a familiar figure waving up ahead.

"There you are," Korym said, stepping out to meet us. "You're late."

Tye led the way past him into a small meeting room, and I followed.

My breath caught.

I'd assumed the team would include a couple people. But no — there had to be over a dozen body mages and mech operators crowded into the small room!

A few seemed familiar from my time in the ScienceDivision, while others were faces from the shifter village — the traitors who'd turned against Alpha Blackwood and his pack.

As if he could feel me studying him, one man in the front — sitting slightly apart from everyone else — looked up, yellow eyes narrowing as they spotted Tye and me.

Japhire?

Tye paid him no heed, though, and moved towards the back of the room, taking a seat at one of the small tables lining the far wall.

Korym grabbed my arm before I could follow him, those sharp fingers gripping tight enough to bruise me. "You're up here with me,Savior."

His words drew every eye in the room, and the contact made my skin crawl.

I ignored it all and forced myself to stand tall. If he wanted to make a spectacle of me being there, so be it.

The door slammed open, and a familiar large form strode through, a wide grin stretching from ear to ear.

Chapter 23

Kaiya

Acheer broke out in the room as my stomach flipped.

Holden.

She put me on a team withhim?

I gripped the outer seams of my pants, running my thumb along the sharp edge.