That evening, Aria found herself in the healing ward with Marcus. He was sitting up now, color returning to his face. The miracle tea was still working its magic.
"You did well today," Marcus said. "Speaking to the pack. Standing firm."
"I was terrified," Aria admitted.
"Good terror or paralyzing terror?"
Aria considered. "Good terror. The kind that makes you sharp instead of frozen."
"That is the only kind worth having," Marcus said. He studied her with those warrior's eyes. "You know this plan is dangerous. Genuinely, possibly fatally dangerous."
"I know."
"And you are still willing to go through with it?"
"What choice do I have?" Aria asked. "Hide forever? Live in fear? Watch the pack drain resources protecting me until they resent the burden?" She shook her head. "That is not living. That is just existing."
