POV: Daniel

She was a soldier in borrowed armor among the wreckage. Arms crossed tight over her chest, chin trembling but held high, paper moons and children’s books between us, evidence of the fight I’d made her watch me win.

Her eyes still smoldered with things she wanted to ask me. The bond roared with everything she was not saying.

Mate.

The word beat at my teeth, bruised them with the truth, seared my tongue, clawed at my chest. I could say it, should say it, ...