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WREN

I woke to the sound of purring and pressure on my chest, but the good kind. Not the type that spoke of fear and anxiety but of comfort.

My eyes fluttered open to see Princess’s tiny kitty body curled up right over my heart. Everything in me melted. Locke had told me that she’d slept with me every night I’d been in the healing sleep. And she stuck close even now.

Glancing at the clock, I winced. Half past ten. Even days later, I was still sleeping far more than normal. But my strength was returning.

A folded piece of paper caught my attention. I grabbed it and petted Princess with my other hand.

Puck has breakfast for you when you’re up. Don’t think about skipping it. I’ll be in The Lair. Love you. – Locke

My throat tightened as I read those final words. Love you. He hadn’t spoken them out loud, but he showed me every single day. I shouldn’t have been surprised that he would give voice to them in the most Locke-like way possible.

But still, fear took hold. That love was a precious gift. And it meant there was that much more to lose.

Princess butted her head against my chin.

“I love you, too.”

It was so much easier to give an animal those words. Maybe if my wolf had supremacy, it would be easier for her, too.

Princess’s purring intensified as I scratched her little furry booty. I couldn’t help but grin. “What do you think? Want to get breakfast?”

She popped up like a little meerkat, her head cocking to one side.

I laughed. “You love eggs.”

Princess let out a series of meows and leapt off me.

“Okay, okay, I’m getting up.” I swung my feet over the side of the bed, moving to sit. I waited to see if any dizziness came, but it didn’t. Progress.

The only problem was that progress came with decisions needing to be made. When to leave. Where to go. Whether or not to let Locke and Puck come with me.

I shoved all of it to the side and pushed to my feet. I made quick work of getting ready for the day, Princess chattering to me the whole time. Donning leggings, a workout top, and sneakers, I was ready to go.

I walked each day. Locke, Puck, or both came with me. Sometimes, Princess came, too.

As if summoning her, she leapt onto the bed and then my shoulder. I laughed and stroked her chest. “My little parrot.”

She nestled against my neck in answer, and we headed to the kitchen. Music played softly, some indie rock band I couldn’t identify. My breath caught when I stepped inside.

Puck stood at the stove wearing dark jeans that hugged his hips and a white tee that traced every plane of muscle. My whole body came alive, my fingers itching to trace his brand.

“Morning,” he called without turning around. He slid two pancakes off the griddle and onto a platter, then finally turned to face me.

He looked better, too. There was color back in his face, and those green eyes were full of mischief again. “Pancakes, eggs, bacon, and Locke’s healing drink.”

My stomach rumbled. “Thanks, buddy.”

Those green eyes flashed. “Birdie, what did I say about calling me buddy ?”

I grinned as I slid onto a stool at the island, Princess still perched on my shoulder. “That you love it?”

Puck let out a low growl. “I’ll show you what kind of buddy I can be.”

My body shivered with a pleasant tremble. “I look forward to it.”

“You’ll need to eat all of this, then.” Puck stacked my plate full of food.

“I’m not Ender-sized,” I grumbled.

Puck shot me a stern look. “I know you share with that little beast.”

I lifted a hand to stroke under Princess’s chin. “She’ll get you if you talk mean to her.”

The cat hissed in Puck’s direction as if to emphasize the point.

Puck made a bastardized sign of the cross. “Get away from me, demon. Did you know she swiped at me when I tried to cuddle you last night?”

My lips twitched. “Were you trying to move her?”

He pouted. “Maybe.”

“Then it was your own damn fault.” I took a bite of the eggs and realized they were flavored with cheese and garlic. I moaned.

“You keep making sounds like that, and I’m taking you right back to bed,” Puck all but purred.

“Not exactly a threat, buddy.” I broke off a piece of bacon and fed it to Princess.

“You’re killing me.”

The feeling was mutual. Puck and Princess traded barbs as we ate, but I knew they really loved each other. When Princess had her fill, she leapt from my shoulder and headed off to do gods only knew what.

“She’s probably going to take a shit in my shoe,” Puck muttered.

I tried to choke back a giggle because it wouldn’t be the first time.

Raised voices sounded, and I frowned, trying to figure out which direction they were coming from. “Who is that?”

Puck was already sliding off his stool, and I moved to follow him toward the back doors.

The voices got louder the closer we got.

Locke emerged from The Lair, clearly having been disrupted, as well.

We spilled out onto the back patio to find Ender and Kingston yelling back and forth as a massive bonfire raged in the background.

Only someone was moving around the fire—someone tossing various items into the blaze. Brix.

I hadn’t seen his face since he’d taken me down from the hook. Now, my stomach cramped. He looked awful. His eyes were sunken, the hollows dark. His hair was up in a knotted tangle, and his scruff had tipped into unkempt beard territory.

But it was what he held in his hands that had a sick feeling sweeping through me. “Are those what I think they are?”

Ender’s gaze snapped to me. “If you think they’re heads, then yes.”