The air thickened with tension, silence falling between them. But after a moment, Brigid sighed, clearly recognizing she owed them some kind of explanation. She turned her gaze to Maverick, deliberately avoiding Jayden.

“You know why I help you, don’t you? It’s because you were sent by nature itself,” she said firmly, her tone almost respective. “That’s why I aid you—and only you.” Her eyes darted to the others, pointedly skipping over Jayden as if he were ...