Kael insisted on carrying her back to her room despite her protests that she could walk. "You took an arrow for my father," he said firmly. "The least I can do is save your pride from the indignity of collapsing in front of the pack."

"I wasn't going to collapse," she grumbled, but secretly she was grateful. The adrenaline was wearing off, and exhaustion pulled at her sides.

He laid her gently on the bed, then sat beside her, his hand finding hers automatically. "You scared me today," he said ...