Lucien punched Len, a solid hit on his shoulder. “Speak for yourself. Nothing soft about me.”

It sounded a lot like Len coughed out Simone, but before a war broke out, Reece let out a low, rumbling huff of air. As much as he pissed me off—and why the hell was I still standing in the same room as him?—I knew that sound well enough that I had to look his way.

What is it? Galleli asked, so at least I didn’t need to.

Reece shook his head. “The desert lands are uneasy; their sands of time drift through my energy. They’re calling me into the depths of the Delfora, and I can’t get a straight answer from any of the other dynasties about what has been unearthed.”

“When is your next meeting of the lands?” Lucien asked, and once again, my question was answered without me even having to say a word. Lest Reece think I give a single fuck about him.

I’d do about anything to ensure that never happened.

“It’s in a dozen red moons,” he said shortly. “And I have a favor to ask. Will you all accompany me? There’s betrayal afoot, and I think it’s best if I bring backup. We must ensure there’s never another dynasty war.” His eyes met mine briefly, his blue embers of fury. “The last one near destroyed us all.”

“Of course, you don’t even have to ask,” Len said, slapping a hand on Reece’s shoulder. “As Mera said, we’re a pack now, and pack sticks together.”

“She used that emotional blackmail to get us to hang up her damn Christmas lights,” Reece said with a laugh. “But I’ll take it. I know Shadow won’t want to bring her while she’s pregnant, but I think with all of us there, she’ll be safe. I’ll speak to him tomorrow.”

That had me standing a little taller. Truth of the matter, I was more than a little curious about this meeting of the dynasties. Especially if there was trouble afoot in their ancient and sacred Delfora lands, but I’d had no intention of taking part in it. At least not up until I’d known Mera would be there.

Where Mera went, so did I.

This time, I was the one to slam my gaze into Reece, and there was a moment of truth between us. I would be in the desert lands with him in a dozen red moons, back to the place where our shit had all gone down.

A place that held our past hurts and losses.

The place where Reece had destroyed my heart and soul, and I wondered if finally, I might be able to dig it up from the red soil. Dig it up and let him and our feud go.

For good.