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She loved how his hand lingered on her lower back when passing behind her chair.

How his knee brushed hers beneath the table, the way he gazed at her.

It wasn’t dominance.

It was attentive care, quiet and constant.

Tears pricked her eyes as she clung to the comfort it gave her, even as she fought off waves of panic, thinking of her family and friends on her ark ship.

As the meal wore on, Savvine reveled in the safety and unity on the Signet vessel packed with ex-prisoners and former rebels, and had once housed chaos and blood.

She sensed little tension in the air.

There was no evidence of open-carry weapons, glints of distrust from passersby, or proof of tight-lipped factions side-eyeing one another.

Here, the harmony was companionable, the laughter was unrestrained.

TheEternahadn’t enjoyed a peace like this in years, caught in the endless tension of mafia feuds, internal factional bickering, and external clan wars.

Savvine soon grasped that the calm on board theSombrawas attributed to Xander.

His presence dominated every room he prowled into.

He was the steady, magnetic eye of the storm.

His brotherhood admired him and often sought his affirmation or even critique, but never with fear, always with respect.

Her estimation of him rose even more.

After dessert and hot, bitterkahawa, it was back to the boardroom, and more poring over plans.

At one point, Xander leaned closer to her again, reviewing a layout of theVenantia Eterna’sdocking grid. His breath warmed her cheek.

‘I think we can get you in through engineering sector four,’ he murmured. ‘Quietest entry point.’

She nodded, her throat tight.

His knee nudged hers, a silent signal of reassurance. She didn’t pull away.

Instead, she lingered, basking in his care, leaning into his touch.

Damn. This was devotion she could get used to.

17

The Watchful Wolf

XANDER

Xander kept her close all day.

Not because of paranoia, but by pure instinct.

His eyes were on her every breath, move, and micro moment.

Reading her. Scenting her.

Shielding her from the building pressure and strain.