Page 111 of A Court of Wings and Shadows

Her presence swept in immediately, warm and vast, curling like fire-smoke around the edge of my thoughts.

I am above you,she answered.I will return to the isle and sleep as soon as I know you are safely inside your room.

I sighed, the weight of the conversation with Solei still clinging to me like sand I couldn’t shake off.Why are you here? I’m not in danger.

Her response came sharp and unyielding.I no longer trust your family with your safety.

My lips thinned, my fingers curling tighter on the doorframe.Solei isn’t going to hurt me.

She already did.Kaelith’s voice was not angry, but it was absolute.She attacked you on your father’s orders. I will not sit on the isle while you are meeting your assailant.

She came unarmed. She wore a loose tunic, Kaelith. She wasn’t here as an assassin.

And yet,Kaelith growled,she did not come to protect you either.

I exhaled through my nose, frustrated.I’m not fragile.

No,Kaelith said, quieter now.You are unique and mine. There is a difference.

The words brought me up short. My chest tightened in a way that had nothing to do with battle or betrayal. She wasn’t going to back down. I could feel it in the steel under her tone. She wouldn’t sleep. Wouldn’t fly home. Not until I did what she asked.

And the truth was… despite my irritation, a part of me was grateful.

Fine,I murmured.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside, the familiar scent of leather, dragon oil, and smoke-washed linen grounding me instantly.

The barracks were quiet. My squad was asleep or pretending to be, their shapes outlined in the low flicker of lantern light.

I’m inside,I whispered through the bond.

Kaelith’s presence relaxed slightly.Good.

Her voice faded, warm and content, as if now, only now, she could rest.

And with her silent above me like a storm waiting to fall, I finally closed the door.

As soon as I secured the handle, the entire barracks shifted like a stage coming to life. Covers flipped back. Cots creaked. One by one, every member of Thrall Squad sat up in their beds, eyes fixed on me.

Tae was the first to speak. “What happened?”

I blinked at them. “Why were you all pretending to be asleep?”

Cordelle pulled a thick book from under his bed, already flipping it open with a distracted expression. “There have beenseveral patrols circling. We assumed they were waiting for you to return.”

“I didn’t see anyone outside,” I said, frowning.

Riven pointed lazily to the heavy door that led into the hallway. “That’s because they’re in the halls.”

I raised a brow. “That’s new.”

“And annoying,” Ferrula muttered as she swung her legs off the side of her cot.

Jax stood, not bothering to mask the tension in his shoulders. “What happened? Where did you go?”

I hesitated only for a second. “I met with Solei.”

Jax froze. His fists clenched at his sides. “If she tried anything?—”