Temptations

KALLE

By dinnertime Kalle was beside herself, pacing the floor of the suite, hands shaking.

He should have been back by now, surely?

She forced herself to go downstairs and bring up three meals, muttering about working, researching, all of them tired and unwilling to take a break. The cook smiled and made her a tray, but Shaw's eyes were sharp on her and Kalle hustled out of there, too shaken to be able to lie well.

Why wasn't Gahrye back? Even if he wasn't a Protector, even if they were wrong he could have crossed and then come back.

Couldn't he?

Images rose in her mind of Gahrye leaving the portal and walking into the arms of the wolves. Or of fleeing them, back into the portal and being chased by ignorants who didn't know they couldn't cross with him—unless he was a Protector, she reminded herself. Then they would be safe.