After the tense encounter with Evelyn, Nila expected to spend the night hidden away in Kaelen’s quarters, wrapping her mind around the reality that her wolf’s instinct was truly waking up.

But Kaelen had other plans.

He reached for her hand, his thick fingers weaving through hers with a gentle, firm pressure that left no room for hesitation. He guided her down a flight of narrow, spiraling stone stairs she hadn't seen before, deep into the eastern wing of the fortress where the air grew cool and smelled heavily of dry paper and old ink.

"Where are we going?" Nila whispered, her boots clicking softly against the stone steps.

Kaelen...