"Bring Mr. Zirren here," Lucien instructed Caleb.

Caleb gave a sharp nod and left the cell without a word.

One of the guards hurried forward with a plain metal chair. Lucien took it, lowering himself slowly while his eyes never leaving Aaron.

"How did you know Leia was Grayson Zirren’s daughter?" he asked, but the stare he fixed on Aaron was anything but gentle. "And why were you so damn sure he was still alive all these years?"

Aaron’s cracked lips twisted into a bitter sneer. "I wasn’t a hundred percent sure he’d survived. Didn’t need to be. I just wanted his daughter to pay for what he did." He leaned forward as far as the chains allowed, eyes burning.

"But a wolf like Grayson? I saw what he could do. Felt it. No way a fire takes him down that easy. You would’ve won that day, Lucien, you would’ve had us all if he hadn’t shown up. Leia would’ve been dead right then and there if her fucking father hadn’t come charging in."

The words were barely out of his mouth when Lucien moved. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

He was out of the chair in a blur, one hand shooting forward to close around Aaron’s throat like a steel vise. Aaron’s head slammed back against the wall with a dull thud, chains rattling wildly as his feet scraped.

Lucien leaned in close, fingers tightening just enough to feel the frantic pulse under Aaron’s skin.

"Don’t you ever say her name again. Not like that." His eyes glowed faintly, his wolf barely leashed. "Your life is hanging by a thread I’m holding, Aaron. You think bringing Grayson here gives you the right to spit whatever poison you want? You forget who you’re talking to."

He squeezed once more, watching Aaron’s face redden, then eased back just enough for the man to drag in a ragged breath.

"I don’t give a fuck what happened to your family, your coven, your people. You came after my mate. You put your hands on Leia. And that’s a price you’re going to pay. Every single day you’re still breathing down here is because I allow it. Remember that."

He held the grip a second longer, then released him abruptly. Aaron slumped, and coughed vigorously.

Lucien straightened, smoothing his shirt like nothing had happened, and sat back down.

~~~~~

Kieran kept the car rolling at an easy pace, and he glanced over at Leia every few seconds, like he still couldn’t quite believe she was sitting there beside him.

"I really thought you’d say no," he admitted, fingers tapping lightly on the steering wheel. "With everything going on lately... I figured you’d want to stay close to home."

Leia turned to him, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You thought wrong, then."

He let out a soft laugh, half-relieved, half-nervous. "Yeah. Guess I did."

A quiet second passed, the kind that felt comfortable rather than awkward. Then Kieran glanced at her again. "Did Lucien... Give you a hard time about going out with me?"

Leia tilted her head, giving him a playful side-eye. "How many times are you planning to ask that?" She softened it with a little laugh. "Yes, Lucien’s protective. You know that. But he’s starting to loosen up, letting me choose what I want, even if it scares him a little." She shrugged, looking out the windshield for a moment. "And he trusts you. A lot. When I told him, he actually smiled. Said he was glad you asked me."

Kieran’s hands stilled on the wheel. He blinked, then let out a slow breath, the tension in his shoulders easing just a bit.

"He was happy about it?" he asked, like he needed to hear it again.

"Yeah," Leia said, turning back to him. Her smile was gentle and warm. "He was."

Kieran nodded slowly, the corners of his mouth lifting. He didn’t say anything for a few seconds and simply drove.

"Hmm," Kieran hummed softly.

Then, after a quiet beat, he glanced over at her again. "By the way... you’ve got to decide about Delia soon. Today you’ve to give your answer."

"I know," Leia said, nodding as she watched the streetlights slide by. "I remember." She took a slow breath, fingers fidgeting together in her lap. "I’ve already made my decision."

Kieran’s brow lifted just a little. He kept his voice gentle, curious but not pushing. "What is it?"

Leia turned to him fully now, her expression soft but steady, like she’d thought about this for a long time and finally found peace with it.

"I’m going to forgive her," she said.

Kieran’s eyes widened slightly, but he didn’t interrupt. He just waited, giving her space to say the rest.

"I know it sounds crazy," she went on, voice low but sure. "But... I want to try having a bigger heart this time. I’m tired of the fighting, wolves against witches, and now hunters in the mix too. It never ends. Someone has to take the first step toward peace, right? Why not us?"

She looked down at her hands for a moment. "Delia lost her mom. That kind of pain... It changes you. And the fact that my dad was the one who took her life, it wasn’t easy for her to just let that go. I get why her feelings for me turned into hate. She loved me once, you know. Then grief twisted it into something dark. I don’t want to keep feeding that cycle."

Leia lifted her gaze back to Kieran. "Letting her go... forgiving her... Maybe it’s naive. But I want to believe it could be the start of something better. For all of us."

"I think," he said softly, thumb brushing lightly over her knuckles, "that’s one of the bravest things I’ve ever heard. I’m with your decision, Leia."

His gae remained focused on the road ahead.

"Thanka, Kieran. You know that have calmed my heart. I thought you would scold me for trusting a witch again," Leia stated.

"Never." Kieran shook his head.