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Not that I can blame him.

“Fuck it.”

There’s no way I’m going back to sleep until I know they’re both alright. For all I know, Vae’s done something stupid as fuck, like renting a digger and having it air-lifted into the clearing next to the cave where Idril disappeared. He might be ten minutes from checking off the next entry on his “Grovel Until Idril Forgives me, or I Die, Whichever Comes First” list.

I throw back my blankets, climb out of bed, and step into a pair of joggers. On my way to the door, I pass the couch and almost dismiss the sweatshirt draped over the back of it.

Then my brain supplies an image of Vae in the cab of a tractor, wearing a hard hat and a look of determination.

“You better fucking not be,” I grumble, swiping the sweatshirt and pulling it over my head. I pull on socks and shoes too, just to be safe, already cursing my Packmate for something he’s only done in my imagination.

So far.

I’ve managed to work myself into a shit mood by the time I whip open my bedroom door. I’m looking down at my phone, scowling at the 2:14 a.m. timestamp, so I damn near run right into Caelan.

“Whoa!”

My head snaps up at the sound of his voice, seconds before impact. I wasn’t expecting anyone right outside my door at this time of night… but especially not Caelan.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

He frowns, steps back, and slides his hands into the pockets of his jeans. His expression hardens, and I realize how shitty my question sounded.

I groan, shaking my head. “Sorry, shit. I didn’t mean to sound accusatory. I just wasn’t expecting⁠—”

“For me to be right outside your door at two in the morning?” he finishes flatly, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Ah… yeah.”

The silence that follows is awkward as fuck.

“So—”

“I need your help⁠—”

We speak at the same time, and when his words register, I jerk back in shock. He wants my help? Mine?

“Where’s your best friend?” I ask, petulantly. “Why can’t he help you?”

The moment the words are out of my mouth, I want to punch myself in the face. What is wrong with me? Am I just going to spend the rest of my life making sure my brother hates me forever?

Caelan pins me with a look of disgust that I know I deserve. Then he turns away from me with a scoff. “Just forget it.”

Panic washes over me, and I lurch after him, grabbing his arm to stop him from leaving.

“Hey, no! Wait!”

He tries to shake me off, but I refuse to let go.

“Fates, Caelan. I’m so fucking sorry. I don’t know what the hell’s wrong with me. I just woke up out of nowhere, and every time that happens it’s because something bad’s gone down, so I’m on edge. And I’m being a dick because apparently I have the emotional maturity of a child when I get stressed.”

I’m not sure what part of my tirade gets through to him, but I sag with relief when he finally stops fighting to get away from me.

Until his eyes fill with suspicion and he asks, “What did you just say?”

“Uh, which part?”

“You said you woke up out of nowhere.”