Page 193 of The Moonborn's Curse

Veyr blinked. "That's... deeply unsettling."

A ghost of amusement curled across her lips. "Not a big fan of your porn stash."

Hagan choked.

Veyr looked vaguely horrified, his ears turning faintly pink. "That is private encrypted data."

"Not encrypted enough," Seren muttered, biting back a grin.

Veyr went very still. Hagan choked on absolutely nothing.

"You're bluffing," Veyr said flatly.

Seren shrugged. "Am I?"

Seren's smile slipped away just as quickly, her voice turning steady again. "Then you'd better not start hiding things now. Either of you."

The air shifted—lighter for a moment, though the weight between them still lingered. There was no escaping what was ahead.

She looked at Hagan for a long moment. Then at Veyr, who nodded once. And then back at Hagan.

"Wait for me?" she asked softly.

His eyes burned. "For as long as it takes."

Chapter 70

Threk wasn't supposed to come.

But when Seren tossed her pack in the hallway and turned to leave, she found him already waiting by the door, arms crossed and eyes defiant.

"You'll need me," he said simply.

She didn't argue. She couldn't lie to herself. She was relieved he was coming.

They swung by Ana and Ryn's to let them know. Ryn, leaning in the doorway with a mug of something suspiciously strong-smelling, arched one brow. "If there's murder or mayhem involved," she said, "text me. I'll bring my broadsword."

Ana just pulled Seren into a fierce hug and slipped something wrapped in cloth into her hand. "In case you forget to eat." She looked beyond her shoulder at Veyr who was studiously avoiding her eyes.

" You are cruel, Veyr," Seren said as they made their way to the Hollow Moon.

"Some things are not meant to be," Veyr replied quietly.

Then came Griff.

He didn't look up from the clipboard when they barged into the back office. "What now?"

"I need to go back to the tribeland," Seren said. "Things are not good in Vargrheim."

Griff scowled. "Of course it has. Always bloody changes when I finally get someone decent on a shift. Fine. Go sort yourselves out. Just don't die—training new help is a pain in my arse."

"Love you too," Seren sassed with a smile, waving at Rhea.

The jeep was already rumbling when Threk jogged up and made a move for the driver's side.

"I'm driving," Veyr blocked him.

"You're always driving."

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