The hardest part of the worst night of her life wasn't the throne room. It was after.
When the hostages were safely en route through the passage, and the elders had settled, Ryker entered the antechamber to get Maddox.
Nicholas and Kael entered behind him with the spatial awareness of two cats who had both decided the same box was theirs. Neither yielded the doorframe. Both entered sideways. The compromise pleased no one.
Kael was mid-sentence. "Take the wolves and get out through the passage with the others. Both girls and Maddox too. I'll handle the ward nexus."
Ryker's jaw tightened. He did not trust a single word of that, but he had arrived at the same conclusion independently, which was the infuriating thing about Kael Ashenvale: his plans were usually right, his motives were always suspect, and the two facts existed in a space that made every tactical decision feel like swallowing a fishhook.
Then all three men froze at the sight.
