All except Zarah.
And the troll. The strange creature had grown close to the clan in its own way, though even now it loomed at the edge with arms crossed, watching Ariel with quiet distrust. Strange—how once the troll had been treated with the same wariness now directed at her, only to somehow become part of the clan.
That was worth investigating. But I didn't have time for that.
Zarah stepped closer, her jaw tightening, her voice dropping to a whisper meant only for me. "She almost killed me."
Her breath brushed against my ear, carrying that faint, grounding scent of hers.
It stirred something in me, something sharp and distracting.
For a heartbeat, I let it linger, savoring the nearness.
But I forced myself back, snapping the thought away before it rooted too deep. This wasn't the time.
"It's fine," I replied firmly, holding her gaze without flinching. "She will not harm you. I made sure of that."
