Page 43 of The Panther's Price

Lucien didn’t speak much as they climbed, shadows flaring around him like smoke with teeth. Evryn followed without complaint, her legs screaming but her head too full of what had just happened to slow down.

They finally ducked beneath a twisted arc of thick vines and brush, into an overgrown grove buried beneath the ridge line. It was small, concealed, silent but for the rustle of leaves and a trickle of water nearby.

Lucien knelt, scanning the perimeter with sharp, practiced glances.

He pulled a scroll from his coat, a second shadow-crow already forming near his shoulder.

“What’s that?” Evryn asked, throat still raw.

“I’m sending word to Seraphine and Calder,” he said. “They need to know we were found.”

Evryn dropped onto a patch of moss, groaning. “Do I want to know how they’re going to react?”

“They’ll be furious.” He didn’t sugarcoat it. “But they won’t be going there again.”

Lucien handed the crow the message. It vanished into the trees with a soft whisper.

He finally turned to her. And for a moment, he justlooked.No training. No orders. Just breathing the same breath.

“Thank you,” he said softly.

Evryn blinked. “For what?”

“For saving my life.”

She snorted. “You’d have done the same.”

“I wouldn’t have done it likethat.”

Evryn’s smile faded. “Whatwasthat?”

Lucien sat beside her. “An inheritance. A buried one. You shouldn’t be able to call that kind of force. Not without years of training, anchors, focus. But it responded to your need.”

Evryn curled her knees to her chest, staring at her hands.

“I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I just... didn’t want to lose you.”

Lucien froze. After a moment, he reached out slowly. His fingers brushed hers, hesitant at first. Then steadier.

Evryn looked at their hands.

“Are you going to tell me to be careful with it?”

Lucien’s voice was low. “No. I’m going to tell you that you’re terrifying in the best way.”

She laughed, barely. Then leaned against him, forehead resting on his shoulder.

He didn’t move. Didn’t pull away.

For once, she let herself believe she wasn’t alone in this war.

NINETEEN

LUCIEN

He shouldn’t have brought her here.

Not tothisplace.

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