Chapter 281

• Darius POV
• We ride into the council grounds, heads turn before we even dismount. Nightfang at the center. Silverstrike flanking us. Ironfell riding close. No pack trailing behind another, no one hanging back.
• I swing down first, then help Nysa down carefully. She keeps her chin lifted, hand firm in mine. Kaelen dismounts beside Myra, immediately positioning himself between her and the nearest path. Torin is already scanning the perimeter like he expects someone to try something stupid. Ronan and Aveline fall in on Nysa’s other side.