The Near ConfessionThe day was endless. I sat in my side of the tent, confined by Demetrius’s order, pretending to read the tactical maps he had given me. But my eyes kept drifting to the partition. I felt the sharp ache of exhaustion from the life force I had poured into the Mate Bond last night, and the strange, quiet satisfaction that the ache was worth it.

He had been gone for hours, commanding the troops. The camp noise was muted, but the tension was thick enough to choke on. Every time ...