That half-grin appeared once more. “Is that so?”
I frowned. What was that supposed to mean?
“We should begin training, though,” Casteel continued. “With the eather.” A dimple appeared in his right cheek. “You can be our…instructor.”
The way he said that made it sound like something illicit. “When can we start?”
“Tomorrow,” Kieran suggested.
Before I could respond, the click of…claws rapping off stone interrupted me. Casteel tensed, and Kieran looked toward the main chamber.
“I can’t believe I heard that,” I whispered. “I have super hearing.Finally.”
Kieran arched a brow. “Congrats.”
Casteel leaned forward and placed his glass on the table. Tension bracketed his mouth. “Are you expecting anyone?”
“No,” Kieran drawled.
Eather hummed faintly in my chest as I let my senses stretch beyond me and the chamber. My stomach tightened and then dipped when the fresh, springy mark of… “It’s Delano.”
“I’ll see what he needs,” Kieran said, setting his drink on the table as he rose and quickly left the chamber.
I twisted toward Casteel. “I’m surprised thenotamis still intact.”
“Because Seraphena is now awake?”
I nodded and brushed some damp hair back from his brow. Not only did thenotambelong to her, but she was also the one who’d given thekiyouwolves their duality.
His narrowed eyes fixed on the doorway. “I wonder how that’s possible.”
The answer slowly came to me, the subtle prickling sensation spreading across the nape of my neck and stirring the fine hairs there. “We’re both true Primals of Life. And we’re both bonded to the wolven. But she isthetrue Primal of Life.” I looked over at him, and his gaze met mine. “If she summons them? If she pulls rank?”
That muscle along his jaw began to tick. “They would be hers to command.”
“Yes.” I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
“Let’s not borrow tomorrow’s problems,” he murmured, turning his gaze to mine. “We have enough for today.”
Gods, did we ever.
My gaze strayed to the doorway as I thought about the last time I had seen Delano. Not when we were beneath Wayfair—that was still a blur to me—but the image of him at the Bone Temple, his fur streaked with red and my dagger protruding from his chest. That was far too easy to recall.
He’d died while protecting me.
And the agony and horror of that loss had pushed me into my Ascension.
But he was okay.
All of them were.
They had been given a second chance. Something I knew in my bones could not be granted again for those who had been brought back.
“Do you want to see Delano?” Casteel asked, drawing my gaze back to him.
I hesitated for only a moment, then nodded.
“You positive?” he pressed. “If you’re not ready, you don’t have to.”
