Page 243 of Untamed

I look up at him, caught off guard. “What is it?”

“Open it.” I do, and inside, nestled in dark silk, is a bracelet, sleek black gold, smooth and understated, with a single charm shaped like a raven feather, delicate and razor-edged all at once. It’s beautiful. Lethal in its elegance.

Like him.

“Ares…” The word barely escapes me before he reaches for it, lifts it carefully from the box, and takes my wrist.

“It’s one of a kind,” he says softly, eyes never leaving mine. “There’s nothing else like it anywhere. I had it made for you.”

The clasp clicks into place around my wrist like it was always meant to be there. It fits perfectly, weightless and secure.

“It’s beautiful, but why?” I whisper. His fingers linger over the charm, thumb grazing the metal like it grounds something inside him.

“Because I needed you to have something that’s mine. Something that ties you to me when I can’t be there.” He pauses and then quietly adds, “It’s yours, but it’s also a promise. That no matter what happens, I’ll find you.”

My throat tightens. I run my fingers over the charm.

“It’s beautiful,” I say again. He leans in, presses a soft kiss to my temple.

“So are you. And just as rare.”

Then, as he pulls back, I repeat softly, “Yours,”

He lifts his eyes to mine and nods. “You are.”

A pause lingers between us, weighted with all the things neither of us has the courage to say aloud. Then he adds, “Keep it on. Always.”

I nod, brushing my thumb over the charm, not knowing it’s more than just a gift, not knowing he just tied a thread from me straight to him.

“I’ll be gone a few hours,” he says, straightening, the storm settling back over his shoulders like a familiar coat. “Dante will stay close. And the guards know you don’t leave the perimeter. Not for anything.”

“Ares, I’ll be fine, there are guards in every corner surrounding the villa. Dante should go with you.” He looks at me like he wishes he could believe that.

“No, you’re not fine. But you’re still breathing. That’ll do, fornow. And Dante stays, I need to know you’re protected, and right now he’s the only one I trust.”

I don’t argue, instead I nod, brushing my fingers over the bracelet again. It's cool against my skin.

Ares leans in, his mouth barely grazing my temple, his voice low and rough. “If anything happens, don’t scream. Run. Don’t try tobe brave. Don’t play hero. Get out, hide, wait for me.” Then he pulls back. One last glance at the bracelet.

“And don’t take that off.”

I glance at the bracelet, then look up as he turns to leave.

Okay... that was weird. And the way he said it, low, final, plants a seed in my head, one that has me wondering what he’s not telling me.

The villa door clicks shut behind me, but I don’t move right away.

I stand on the front step, eyes scanning the shadows that stretch across the courtyard like they’re hiding something. Maybe they are.

My hand slips into my coat pocket, fingers closing around my phone. One tap, and the screen lights up.

A single red dot glows on the map.

She’s where she’s supposed to be.

I zoom in. The bracelet’s signal is strong. Stable. Secure.

Still, it’s not enough.

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