That earned a sharp pause from Selene, who had been hanging strips of meat over the fire. Her hands stilled midair. “You’re going to the Blood Throne?” she said, voice cracking halfway between disbelief and fear. “Xander, they’ll kill you.”

“I won’t let you go,” she said softly.

“This is different,” she hissed, moving closer to him on her knees. “This is worse. They executed our parents for having a hybrid! What do you think they’ll do if they see you in their city?”