LET OFF SOME STEAM

I tightened my grip on the reins, my knuckles white as I continued to ride towards the Virethorn Glade. The wind bit at my face, but I barely felt it. All I wanted was to get through the cursed ride in silence. Caleb, Kaliyah, and the others were behind me, but I needed space—to be alone with my thoughts. Not that being alone was helping much, though.

Kyrax had been in my head all week, relentlessly screaming, and it was getting harder to zone him out.

*You disgust me, Kovu. Cheater. Betrayer. You're weak. You’ve tainted the bond with our mate!*

This had been his anthem for the past week or so, berating me about the incident with Zelena. I always wanted to argue back, but what could I say in my defense? He wasn’t wrong. I had screwed up. But it wasn’t like I planned it. Zelena ambushed me, and before I could realize it, it was already too late. The damn witch had caught me off guard during her heat cycle, casting a drowsiness spell that left me completely at her mercy. I didn’t stand