I suddenly wanted to hug Patrice. Even though she was looking at me like I was a pile of shit someone had left on her porch. She was looking out for Declan’s health and asking him an actual on-topic question instead of probing his wounds for her own curiosity.

Woodbridge lit up. “Ah, I see.” He turned to Patrice. “You must have missed the news this morning. Angus and Eva Campbell aren’t incarcerated any longer.”

Declan kept his casual pose, but his hand under the table gripped mine. “That’s right. I don’t think they know where I am, but I can’t be sure. I hope they will be found and caught—quickly. But I don’t know how long they’ll be loose. I refuse to be under her thumb again.”

Understanding dawned. “If you’re bound to me, she can’t take you.”

Prisha was already shaking her head. “That’s not exactly true. She could, but it would be more difficult. You can’t keep her out unless you’re stronger, better trained, or had a really old and stable bond, hopefully all three of those things.” Prisha’s expression was pretty condescending, but I kept my ruffled feathers to myself. Now was not the time. In her place, I probably wouldn’t think much of myself either. What I’d done, albeit accidentally, was horribly unethical.

Prisha folded her hands in front of her. “From what I’ve read, Eva Campbell was off-the-charts powerful. She has decades of experience and she’s bound Declan before. I’m sorry, but I don’t think you stand a chance. It would be better if—”

Declan cut her off with a growl. “No. No other mage. It’s Lou or nothing. I will not be taken again, and Lou…” He licked his lips. “It has to be Lou.” He turned toward me. “Please.”

I squeezed his hand. “What about Dr. Larsen, she—”

He threw me a pleading look. “No offense to Dr. Larsen, but I trust you. The wolf chose you.”

I’d have a hard time saying no to that argument, and I definitely couldn’t say no to the expression on his face. “If that’s what you want, then that’s what we’ll do.”

His shoulders drooped in relief and he smiled. It was the kind of smile you had to return, so I did.

“But she’s green—she hasn’t even finished her apprenticeship yet,” Woodbridge argued. “There is no way she’s even the same caliber as Eva Campbell.”

I could see why Van had been telling Declan her dad was lost at sea. I’d been in a room with him for an hour and I was ready to shove him overboard myself. Into heavily chummed, shark-infested waters.

My family behind me started grumbling. I’d forgotten they were in the room. Ha. Best not start talking shit, Woodbridge. The collective force of the Larsen-Matthews crew was mighty.

Declan glared at Woodbridge. “I don’t give a shit what caliber you think Lou is. I don’t care about her apprenticeship status. I trust her, which I think we can all agree is no small thing, considering. She is loyal, kind, and a fuck of a lot stronger than any of you think.” He tapped his chest. “I can feel her magic. No offense, but you have no idea what she’s capable of.”