Tension mounts inside Aislinn, her heart in a vise as she strives to prepare herself for coming face-to-face with him. She remembers her last glimpse of Jarod in the North Tower’s upstairs hallway, slumped in shock over the murder of his entire family. As she was dragged away by two Mage soldiers, kicking and screaming and snarling curses at her murderous father.

And then, fasted to Damion Bane, the monster hell-bent on breaking her.

And he did break so much of her. Save one fragile shard of will that seeks to bring him down so that he can never destroy another. But the Aislinn that she was, the pure, whole Aislinn that Jarod loved—that Aislinn has been broken beyond redemption.

Aislinn knows that seeing Jarod again, now that she can never be with him, could very well shatter her heart. But, still, she wants the Lupine Change, so she can go back and protect others.

And she wants Jarod to be the one to do it.

Boisterous conversation sounds ahead, intensifying with every step as she advances with her Vu Trin guides. Hearty voices call out to each other, and Aislinn has the sense that there’s a sizable number of people gathered, a feral energy riding on the air. Her heart trips against her chest, her breath quickening. The woods open up, a tree-dotted clearing coming into view.

Aislinn observes it all in wonder. Young, amber-eyed Lupines, perhaps thirty or so from a multitude of racial backgrounds, are working together to erect a long, dome-roofed dwelling hewn from purple wood, small lean-tos encircling the clearing.

Her young soldier guides, Sorra Yil and Umbra Tir, look to her with expressions of great import as they slow down and step back, poised at the clearing edge.

Aislinn steps forward, then freezes as she catches sight of Rafe and Diana, her heart in her throat.

As if sensing her attention, they both turn.

A dazzling, wild smile lights Diana’s face. She growls out a joyful sound and breaks into a run toward Aislinn, blond hair flying as a startlingly amber-eyed Rafe grins and strides toward her, as well.

Diana catches Aislinn in a hug that’s so enthusiastic she’s lifted clear into the air and breathlessly swung in a circle before being set back down. Aislinn forces a smile, her lips trembling even as she searches for Jarod. The other Lupines set down tools, some morphing clawed hands to human ones, as everyone moves in to welcome her.

But then everything fades into the background as one young blond Lupine male appears at the far side of the clearing, and Aislinn stops breathing. His stride slows as obvious recognition hits, then he breaks into a run.