Page 148 of A Warrior's Fate

Isla had no idea who Dane was, but that wasn’t the point.

Seeing she was clearly on edge, Rhydian shuffled on his feet, asking gently with a bit of eagerness, “So, do you, uh, do you love him?”

Isla mustered a smile, forcing herself to relax. “You’re the master of perception. What do you think?”

Rhydian didn’t need to say anything. The wide grin on his face was enough to tell her he could tell exactly how she felt. That he could see the battle ensuing between her mind and her heart as the former preached it was a bad idea to the latter that wanted nothing more than to find Kai and tell him she loved him back.

Isla felt like a weight had been lifted off her chest but then replaced by another. “I’ve never felt like this before,” she confessed. “And it’s so much, so fast.”

“I know.”

He did, and Isla wondered when he’d realized he loved Davina.

“Everything is so easy with him…when it’s only us. It’s like nothing else matters,” she said. “But everything does matter. Because of who he is and who I am. It’ll never be just us. It can’t be just us. And I know I’m not my pack, but convincing people that I’m not their enemy because of how they view where I come from and who my family is will probably be a battle I fight forever, that he’ll have to, and there’s already so much he has—”

“You think you two would be fighting alone?” Rhydian quipped. “What about us?”

Us—Kai’s family. Maybe she’d have people here after all.

Isla actually mustered a laugh. “The whole way up here, I’ve been trying to think of how my life would be if we decided to reject each other. If we moved on, and I just went back to Io to continue as I was and never saw him again.”

“And?”

“I can’t do it…I don’t want to.”

The warriors’ ride back to the hotel was uncomfortable, the silence resounding. Not only was everyone too exhausted to speak, but a thick tension lingered in the air. One that stemmed from each of them. Isla was most curious about Eli’s, but he hadn’t disclosed anything about what had happened in the strategy meeting to them. Apparently, there would be another one tomorrow.

Callan had refused to make eye contact with her from the base to the car and now within it. She wondered if he could feel her pointed stare at the back of his head. If he could feel it as she followed his every move off the warriors’ van and into the hotel lobby. Her own unofficial mission: making sure he left. Until she saw him cross those borders, he was a wild card. Who knew what he’d try to do in the hours before he was technically trespassing on pack ground?

But as she was about to trail him to the staircase, she felt someone tap her shoulder. She spun and was greeted by a man in a hotel uniform, the same one Davina usually wore. She was nowhere to be found behind the desk.

“Are you Isla?” he asked, and when she nodded, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a key. “Here.”

Isla observed the metal. It was for a room, labeled 324. “What is this?”

“East wing. Take the lift to the top floor,” was all he said, casting his eyes side to side for listening ears before shuffling away.

CHAPTER 31

The east wing of the hotel had the remnants of a remodel scattered throughout—tarps and paints, toolboxes, hammers, and screws. It was entirely abandoned, and Isla noticed that there were fewer doors in this hallway than the one in which she resided.

She’d contemplated not even going to the room, unsure what she’d be faced with when she came upon it. But she trusted a voice in her head that had her moving across the lobby to the furthest hallway opening and finding the lift there. She didn’t need the numbers beside the doors to know she was getting close to her desired destination, because she felt it. Felt him.

Her cheek between her teeth and heart thrumming, Isla shoved the key into the lock of 324 and opened the entryway. She found Kai sitting directly in her eye-line, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, in what seemed to be the living area of the grand suite. He sat upright as she stepped inside and closed the door behind her, but he didn’t speak.

Isla clutched her bag strap tightly in her fist. She wouldn’t drop it to the floor. “Hi.”

Kai gave her a weak smile. “Hi.”

“Why have the desk worker be so secretive?”

“You seem to be a prime target for being followed. I didn’t want anyone to overhear and know that I was here. I technically should be back at the hall.”

Isla nodded, accepting the answer. She peered around the room. Nearly three times the size of hers with pockets of living space throughout. The den, kitchenette, office space, and a bed that seemed all too inviting to her tired muscles in the corner. Clean and elegant but with a rustic feel, thanks to some of the furniture. It was just the right balance of luxurious and homey.

“This is really nice,” she remarked, still not moving from her spot.

Kai looked around, considering the space. “They’re trying to make it a bit more like Starlight. It’s in Ifera, more conducive to those who’re having lengthy stays here. I would’ve had you meet me there but didn’t want to make you take the train.” He looked her over, seeing that she’d cleaned up and showered at the base. “How was the hike?”

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