~ JESSE ~Later, Cazz had pulled out a couple of the blankets, and we curled up under them, sitting again with our backs against the cab of the truck. I was leaning against his shoulder. I had been hugging his bicep, but let my hand trail down his arm intending to take his fingers. But when my palm reached the inside of his wrist, he gave a little flinch.I sat up and pulled his hand up, out of the blankets, to see red bands across his wrist. From the belt“Shit, Cazz! Why didn’t you tell me! I didn’t mean to hurt you!”He shrugged and pulled his hand back under the cover of the blankets. “It’s barely a rub-burn, Jesse. I’ll live.”“I know, but… I wasn’t me

~ JESSE ~I hurried away from the dark damp of the tunnel near Maya’s cave, my thoughts spinning.Maya was still very focused on this power she said was growing inside me, insisting that it would manifest. Warning me to watch for it—to pay attention to how it affected me, or others around me. I didn’t doubt that she was right, but I hadn’t seen anything or felt anything, so I wasn’t sure what to do.The truth was, I didn’t want a power like Cazz’s. Maya growled whenever I expressed that, but it was true. I turned the conversation back over in my mind, but I didn’t see what else I could do.“You cannot deny what God has given you,

~ CASIMIR ~As I walked Jesse back towards her chambers to change before we met Rake I was careful to hide the tension that was still roiling in my veins, because I knew it would worry her. I didn’t close her off in the link, only carefully walled away my own tension so she wouldn’t feel it.Since the days with Sheba, and that female’s betrayal, I had never really been the jealous type. I had never allowed myself to care enough for a female to feel threatened by her attention to another male. I was possessive as any Alpha would be where another wolf threatened to encroach on what was mine. I did not stand for the disrespect of it. But jealous? Envious? No.And yet… when I’d been certain Jesse was moving towards me from Maya’s, I hadn’t been able to resist leaving the ledgers and

~ CASIMIR ~Jesse’s head snapped towards me, her eyes wide. “Cazz…” She licked her lips like she was nervous. “I don’t want to leave you or the Palace, but I do want to help. And Rake’s right—if they see me… I know how to play that, so they believe me. I know what drives them. They wouldn’t hurt me—not like that. They’ll want to leverage my access to you and the wolves, so they’ll be on their best behavior. They still think I’ll be driven by money the way they are.”Rake cleared his throat. “They also believe you could bring them female wolves, which they covet. Apparently, the men in your world see them as legendary. Sexually. They’re expecting me to report back with an update on what promises you’ll make and what you can bring them—and what terms you req

~ CASIMIR ~I snorted. “What has happened is that I am learning who I can trust. And I trust you, Rake. I also trust my mate. Both of you are the only ones who know about this entire picture. Now, don’t distract me and get off the subject,” I said hurriedly. “I’m telling you, you have a male on your team who is well intended, but has concerns about you. Be careful what you let him see. If he misinterprets it and comes running with claims of your betrayal… I shudder to think what could happen.”Rake flapped his hand. “He’ll be fine. I’ll talk to him, let him ask his questions, explain what he’s seeing so he knows how to watch for my heart in it. Leave it to me.”“I will. I just wanted you to be aware.”