Page 129 of A Warrior's Fate

Davina answered simply, “When he became my best friend.”

Isla narrowed her eyes up at the swaying sign of The Bookshoppe, her bag heavy on her shoulder.

Everything felt heavy and strained. Her wolf was livid. It wanted Kai. Isla wanted Kai—and could’ve easily looked like a crazy person muttering to herself on her journey here, telling it to calm down.

She’d barely slept, and it had nothing to do with Davina’s snoring. In her and Kai’s distance, the bond had been driving her mad again. So much so that she’d had to get out of bed and move around just to occupy her mind. Davina, being a heavy sleeper, hadn’t even flinched. And so, Isla spent the entire night perched by the window, much like she would’ve done in her old apartment, much like she’d done in the corridor of the Pack Hall. But instead of looking out into the Imperial City or trying to catch glimpses of Mavec, she focused on what she could make of the Hall, the ghost of Kai’s lips lingering over her own, and the power of Davina’s words swirling around her head.

As soon as the sun had broken the horizon, Isla—who’d finally dozed off for a couple of hours on her chair—went into motion.

It was dawn. The lockdown was over.

Davina, once again, had barely stirred as Isla moved to the bathroom to gather her things before heading out the door.

There were only a few hours until the warriors would be going to the guard base for the day’s training; that meant Isla only had a few hours to figure out all she could about the book and marker before she and Kai spoke later that night. When she presented the two to him, she wanted to be able to say something other than, I have no idea what these are, but I think they’re connected to the person who murdered your family.

And so, here she was. Ready to bring in reinforcements that were apparently better than any library.

The doorknob of the shop was cold in her grip as she twisted it. Locked. She paused, waiting to see if Jonah, on high alert with the rogues, was nearby to detect the sound. Nothing.

Isla lifted her fist to pound on the wood. The opaque glass of its window shuddered.

No response.

She did it again—a little harder.

Nothing.

Maybe he wasn’t here…but, then again, apparently he never really left.

“Jonah!” Isla called, throwing her closed hand at it again. “Jonah! I know you’re—”

Isla jerked back as a shadow appeared on the other side of the window, darkness rippling over the glass. Next came several clicks—locks at varying heights—before the door opened to reveal disgruntled features. Isla noted Jonah’s half-lidded eyes, the shadow of stubble, and his unbuttoned shirt, swaying in whatever breeze had been brought in. She rose a brow at the show of black ink over his well-muscled chest—those tattoos again. Like Kai, Rhydian, and Ameera.

“Why are you at my door at six in the morning?”

His grumbling had her eyes meeting his, the dazzling amber narrowing against the sunlight. Guilt gnawed at her. He was probably just as sleep-deprived as she was.

“Good morning.” Isla forced a smile, one that seemed too chipper for him to handle at this hour. She dropped it, realizing any faux sweetness wasn’t going to get her anywhere with him. “I need your help.”

“We open at ten.”

“And I’ll be in training.”

“We close at eight.”

Isla sighed. “Make an exception for me.”

Jonah adjusted himself against the door. “My brother’s mate, or my luna?”

Isla felt a grimace etching onto her face. Something about the words ringing in the way Imperial Beta’s daughter did. “Just a person asking for your help.”

Jonah eyed her before glancing at the barren streets. In the aftermath of the rogue attacks, there was an eerie stillness to them, but also something skittish. As Jonah shot a glance at the Pack Hall looming above, Isla followed suit, eyes drawn particularly to what she could see of that stained-glass window. She wondered if Kai was up there, gazing down upon his kingdom. Sunrises and sunsets from that perch must’ve been a beautiful thing to behold.

Upon realizing Jonah had long since ceased his roaming eye to focus on her, she started. His features unmoving, he stepped out of the way, allowing her through.

Isla clutched tightly on her bag strap, taking to the now-open space and smiling again. “Thank you.”

Jonah muttered some sort of response, rubbing a heavy hand over his face.

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