Jaxon’s POV

The morning broke slowly. I hadn’t slept, not a wink. Not after dragging Elvira back from the forest, not after watching the way Kairo looked at her, like she was already his. Like he’d won. Like he’d taken something from me I hadn’t even admitted I wanted.

I was pacing my office, jaw tight, heart pounding. Every breath I took only made the pressure in my chest worse. It wasn’t just the council summons that had me on ...