Katelyn hit the stop button on the treadmill, her breath still coming in short bursts as she stepped off. She then grabbed her water bottle from the side rail and took a long drink.
She padded across the quiet living room in her socks and dropped onto the couch, legs stretched out in front of her. Leaning forward, she snatched her phone from the coffee table and scrolled to Alie’s na. She pressed call, listening to the rings until it finally went to voicemail.
"Is she busy this early?" Katelyn murmured, frowning at the screen. A soft ping drew her attention, new ssages lighting up the lock screen. They were from Sage.
Her lips curved into an involuntary smile as she opened the chat. His last ssage was sothing silly and sweet, the kind that always made her heart do a little flip. She typed a quick reply, thumbs flying over the keyboard, then set the phone down again, already thinking about taking a hot bath.
The phone buzzed loudly in her hand, startling her, and she answered without looking.
"Sage," she whispered.
"Sage?" Alie’s familiar, amused voice ca through the line, one eyebrow clearly arched even though Katelyn couldn’t see it.
Katelyn’s cheeks heated instantly. She pulled the phone away to check the caller ID and winced. "Ah—sorry, Alie! I was literally texting him and thought he was calling back."
Alie let out a light laugh. "It’s fine. That reaction was adorable, by the way." Her tone turned warr. "So, what’s up? Why the early call?"
Katelyn sat up straighter, tucking her legs beneath her. "Has Brother Gabriel co back yet? Or is he still in Aurevalis?"
"He got ho safely last night," Alie said, relief audible in her voice.
"Oh, thank God," Katelyn breathed. Then she hesitated, biting her lip. "Sage told sothing... strange. There was a death in their pack, soone found dead, and there were weird marks on the body. He said it looked like witch work." She paused, voice dropping. "I wondered... Could it be Ophelia?"
Alie went quiet for a second. When she spoke again, the playfulness was gone. "What? But she’s supposed to be in the capital. Have they done a proper postmortem yet?"
"The full report’s coming today," Katelyn said. "But Sage swore the marks were unnatural. They were nothing a wolf or a regular weapon would leave. He was pretty confused. I think... You should tell Gabriel. Just in case."
"I will," Alie said firmly. "Right now. Thank you for letting know, Kate."
Katelyn exhaled, so of the tension easing from her shoulders. "Yeah, of course," Katelyn said softly, her voice carrying worry and stubborn affection. "Just... be careful, okay? Did Brother Gabriel find the answers he was looking for? What’s he planning next?"
She then let out a sigh, curling deeper into the couch cushions and continued, "I know, Brother Gabriel wouldn’t even think of dragging into his plans. Still... If he needs help, I’m always here. You know that."
On the other end of the line, Alie tilted her head, glancing sideways at Gabriel, who sat beside her on the edge of the bed, listening in silence. She reached over and tapped the speaker button, then set the phone down between them.
"Kate, it’s not like that," Alie said gently. "Your brother doesn’t want to involve you... Maybe because he’s terrified of you getting hurt."
Gabriel cleared his throat, finally speaking. "Alie’s right. I told you the sa thing the last ti we t before you left for San Ravendale. I’ll talk to Sage about all this."
There was a small pause before she humd.
Gabriel leaned a little closer to the phone, his protective instinct kicking in. "Listen to , Kate. Don’t take anything from anyone you don’t know. Ophelia’s oldest trick is to tempt people with exactly what they think they’re missing."
Katelyn’s soft laugh ca through the speaker, light and confident. "But Brother... I already have everything. I don’t lack anything."
"Still, be careful," Gabriel said.
"Okay," Katelyn promised softly, already smiling at the protectiveness she’d never quite outgrown.
She pulled the phone away from her ear just as another call flashed across the screen. It was from Sage. Her heart gave a quick, happy skip.
"I’ve got to go. Sage is calling," she said in a rush. "Take care, both of you. And give Noah a big hug and kiss from . Bye!"
She ended the call with Alie and Gabriel before they could reply, then imdiately accepted the incoming one, pressing the phone back to her ear with barely contained excitent.
"Good morning," Sage’s voice ca through, low and a little rough from lack of sleep, but unmistakably fond.
"Good morning to you too," Katelyn answered, her smile widening.
"I was wondering..." he started, sounding almost shy, "if you’d like to co over to my apartnt for breakfast."
Her pulse fluttered. "I’d love that. When did you get back from the pack?"
"Just about an hour ago," he said. She could hear the quiet weariness behind his words.
"Okay," she said gently. "I’ll be there shortly."
She hung up, set the phone on the couch, and practically bounced toward the bathroom.
Twenty minutes later, she stepped out, blew dry her hair and changed into warm professional clothes. Applying so light makeup, she put on her muffler and then wore the knee-length boots. Grabbing her coat and purse, she checked the items inside the purse before heading to Sage’s place.
It took her less than five minutes to be in front of Sage’s apartnt. As she almost pressed the bell, an old lady ca to her from the other side.
"Princess Katelyn," the old lady spoke her na, and she turned around.
"Yes?"
The old lady waved her hand over Katelyn’s eyes once, and she fainted right away on the floor. Ophelia returned to her original form and held Katelyn before disappearing.
Just then, Sage opened the door but was shocked Katelyn wasn’t there. He did get the scent of her pheromones. His eyes fell to the floor and saw the fallen items. Katelyn’s purse and coat that carried her scent.
"Where did she go?" he murmured, quickly picking them up.
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