Page 351 of Scarlet Wars
I couldn’t help but smirk. “I bet it is.”
She let out a breath that might’ve been a laugh if it weren’t so tired. “We have…” she hesitated, the word dragging like it hurt. “History.”
That made me pause. Not a lot could surprise me when it came to Cara, but that one landed.
“You and Walker?”
“Not like that,” she said quickly. “Just…complicated stuff.”
“So you said.”
I let the silence stretch a little, watching her squirm more than she probably wanted me to see.
“Must beverycomplicated if it’s enough to makeyoublush.”
She glared at me, but it was halfhearted at best. “Don’t push it.”
I raised both hands in mock surrender. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Cara snorted, unconvinced, then her eyes drifted to the bags on the floor.
“You and Emma leave for Crown tonight?”
I nodded, and just like that, my thoughts were full ofheragain: Emma. Just thinking about her lit something warm in my chest, as if my heart remembered what it was meant to do.
Fuck me.I was a total sap for that woman.
Cara must’ve seen it on my face, because she smiled. A real one. Not sharp or smug, simply…soft.
“I’m glad you guys found each other,” she said quietly. “Not just for the future of magi, but like, genuinely. For you two. I’m sure you will find a way around that pesky little death sentence.”
I snorted.
“Emma deserves good things. After everything she’s been through, she deserves something—someone—good.”
I lifted a brow, amused. “And I’m someone good?”
She laughed, full and unexpected. “Not really.”
Then, quieter, “But I think for her…you are.”
The moment lingered for a beat longer than it should have. Then Cara stood, smoothing out the fabric of her coat as if pulling herself back together.
“I have a feeling we’ll cross paths again sooner than either of us want,” she said. “Let’s hope it’s under better circumstances.”
“I doubt it,” I replied dryly.
She gave a curt nod and turned toward the door.
“Cara.”
She stopped, hand on the frame, and looked back.
I held up the Nexus, now holding the recording, and the document.
“Thank you for this,” I said.
Her gaze softened just a little. “Good luck, Caden. I hope you’ll find what you’re looking for.”
