“Now can we talk about what made you come all this way? There’s no chance you followed me here without a reason. Something must have happened.” Valtor said quietly, his voice low but firm.

After her conversation with Kallias, Winter finally asked the man to leave. He did so without protest, retreating from the room with a respectful bow. Only then did she turn back to her mate.

Valtor had been waiting just outside the room. The moment she stepped into the corridor, she saw the worry, ...