“Fucking hell, Franks, I’m eighteen.” He stopped pacing and faced me. “He’s a thousand years older than me. His mother is Lilith. His father is the Seelie King. He fought in the vampire-Nephilim war. He fought in the One Hundred Years’ War, like all one hundred years of it. He fought alongside the angels. He knows my grandfather. Hell, he was besties with the King of fucking England. He probably has seen Lucifer face to face. So, I know technically Tegan and I are in charge, elected by our Coven-mates, but real-talk, I’m low-key terrified right now.”

My breath caught in my throat.

“We’re just kids, Franks,” he added softly. “This is all new to us. We’re flying blind. But he’s not. Part of being a leader is knowing when to follow, when to understand that someone else knows more than you do. Today was proof of that. We’re not fighting the same fight we have been. This is foreign territory, and I am grateful to have his guidance because I’m trying to stay afloat here.”

Tegan held her hand out. “Come here,” she whispered.

Tenn stomped over to his soulmate and took her hand, then let her yank him down to sit beside her. She wrapped her arms around him and rested her chin on his shoulder.

I licked my lips and stared at them for a long moment. I let out a deep sigh to try and loosen the pressure in my chest. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right,” he said softly. His arm draped over Tegan’s legs. “We’re all under a lot of stress and pressure⁠—”

“And fear,” Emersyn spoke softly. She rolled a ball of fire between her hands. “We’re all terrified. Let’s just be honest.”

Savannah threw her hand in the air. “Straight facts.”

I resumed braiding my pigtails. “It’s just frustrating because it’s different. You two are benched because you are our most important weapons. Losing you means losing the war. But I’m just me. I’m not . . . you. And I don’t say that to get y’all to pat me on the back and tell me I’m special⁠—”

“Ma’am.” Savannah snort-laughed.

“You know what I mean. He’s benching me simply because I’m his soulmate and he’s worried about me⁠—”

“You’re right.” Saber stopped pacing and looked to me. She arched one eyebrow. “I’ve spent a long, long time at his side. He’s always been the picture of calm and steady. Never loses his cool . . . until you. The things I’ve seen him do since he pulled you from that frat house make me not recognize him⁠—”

“But—”