Mira's POV.

I felt him before I saw him.

The mate bond with Kael hummed constantly now, gold and warm and right. But there was another pull, fainter, different. The bond I'd built with Cyrus over six years. Not true, mate, but real enough to ache.

He arrived at the coalition camp as the sun set, his sudden appearance sending guards into defensive positions. "Stand down," I called out, running toward the perimeter. "He's an ally."

Kael emerged from the command tent, his entire body going rigid ...