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"That’s between him and Lyra," Simon said "I’m sure he’d be happy to talk about it, if he ever wakes up"

"Don’t you darecloser to Simon "This is Lyra’s life"

"It is And last I checked, you didn’t run it" Si to bristle, and Lyra worried that in seconds she could have a full-blown fight on her hands Both men had been pushed too far recently And they both wanted very different things frohed, the weariness and depression she’d just e to return and settle back around her like an old coat

"Don’t Don’t fight on ot to think through Which ht now" She looked at Jaden, who turned his attention back to her with a warning glint in his eye It was ath had deserted him in the face of her old life She knew he felt threatened But right this second, she hadhis fears

"I want to see h his eyes were troubled "I’ll coently "I need to see him alone"

She saw the hurt and hated that she’d caused it But there were things she needed to say to her father in private, in case he never awakened Things she only wanted him to hear

"Siht You look exhausted," Lily was saying as she led Sih he cast a long, searching look over his shoulder toward Lyra

"I’ll be up if you want to talk," he said

"As will I," Jaden said And despite the anger she could feel radiating off hientle kiss on her lips before turning and walking away, leaving in the direction Ty had gone It had been meant as reassurance… and as a show of possession to the asseht ruefully, could make her feel flattered and pissed off at the same time

Then she was alone, left to ascend the stairs in silence tohat she knew could be another good-bye She didn’t know exactly what she was going to do… she’d been honest about that But what she knew in her heart, and what she dreaded telling Jaden, was that no matter what, the pack was her family, they were in trouble…

… and if they needed her, she would answer their call

Chapter TWENTY-FIVE

YOU’VE GOT TO RELAX, Jaden She’s not going anywhere tonight"

Jaden turned to glare at Ty, stopping in his tracks fro in Lily’s parlor He’d been incredibly happy in this rooht burst into fla to help him Them Miserable creatures, too ti follow the leader How can she help them?"

Ty leaned back on the couch, his silver eyes intent and unblinking "You’re right, in a way… but so was she when she said you still don’t really understand the way a pack works Asva wolves They work as a unit, live as a unit And ever since the huround, they’re very invested in protecting what they have That includes not allowing their woht just take it upon themselves to either drain the pack of blood or drain a bunch of humans and then blame the wolves"

"It’s bullshit," Jaden snapped He hated it when Ty gave him one of his reasonable lectures He was never in the mood And Ty never cared

"I didn’t say it wasn’t Probably it o, when packs were ser More vulnerable So they need solowered "Like Lyra, you nize it, even if they’re not willing to openly advocate for it That’s a flaw in their systee her life"

That broke Ty’s calm façade a little "Yes," he said solemnly "And that But you can’t make the decision for her"

"The hell I can’t"

Ty snorted "I’ to bet Lyra would have a different opinion on that"

Jaden resu in his face "Tynan, Lyra is not bloody Willia in there with her face painted blue howling about freedoot a decision to make about whether to head back into that hornet’s nest and do what she set out to do in the first place But it’s different now She’s got to worry about the Ptoleot to worry about her psycho cousin, and that little shit Siot to worry about--"

"You," Ty supplied, taking a sip froht red liquid that sat by his hand He cocked his head at Jaden, giving hi, Jaden You love this woman"

"Yes," Jaden said, and the truth of it reverberated through the deepest reaches of his soul "With everything I’ve got"