"Gare?" Serena's brows furrowed. "Why are we here?"
Garrett held up a finger to his lips, and Serena shut her mouth immediately. They heard yells coming from outside.
They stayed frozen for a minute, Serena's heart pounding in her ears.
"Viremont requested an audience with you," Aeron whispered after the commotion died down.
"He d-d-did?" Serena stuttered softly. Not missed by Aeron.
Elara grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. Garrett's expression darkened. Serena stuttering was all he needed to see.
Fin entered the tent a moment later, looking cross. Then he saw Serena and his eyes softened.
He closed the distance, pulling her into a tight hug, taking her by surprise. But it made her feel better. She hugged him back ignoring the butterflies that didn't belong in her stomach and the scent that overwhelmed her.
"You ran out on me this morning." His voice was light, casual, but he was trying a little too hard to sound unbothered.
He laced his fingers through hers, and she blushed. Garrett and Elara both looked away, but Aeron stared point blank, with absolutely zero fucks given.
"Thank you for taking care of me. I overslept and was late."
A portal opened a moment later, and Hale and Hyran entered.
Serena stepped back from Fin, like she'd been doing something wrong, guilt in her chest.
"Viremont went into your quarters in your tent," Hyran cut to the chase. "You can't sleep there tonight and his men have tried to get into Gav's as well."
Serena's eyes widened. "Oh." She forced her voice steady. "Why?"
"He wants to use you to get to Tiberon," Hyran answered. "And he entered armed with men. He won't hesitate to hurt you."
Serena's emotions were caught somewhere between shock and terror.
"We can't have you burning him until we flesh out who the other four packs are," Hale added.
She forgot for a moment that she could channel Velkaris. But that wouldn't help her if he changed into a wolf and attacked her while she was asleep.
She took a steadying breath. Every problem had a solution, and she would figure this out. One thing at a time. Worst case, she didn't sleep tonight which wasn't the end of the world.
"Thank you for bringing that to my attention," she said after a moment. "I understand."
That was all she could say. What else was there? She understood, and she couldn't leave the camp.
Before her mind spiraled any further Fin spoke. "She stays here. I have a second bedroom, and high security. His men wouldn't dare enter."
"I wouldn't want to impose..." she began.
"You wouldn't be imposing," Fin cut in gently. "We are in an alliance. You are way too damn important for him to come near."
Her face went red. "That's kind of you, thank you."
Everyone watched. All well aware of a very large elephant in the tent that Fin had yet to mention and Serena miraculously seemed to not notice.
Hyran shook his head, breaking the silence first.
"I think that is for the best, at least for tonight, Serena."
✦✦✦
Serena was sitting with Fin on the couch in his tent, entirely too close. Long after everyone left, she found herself in easy conversation with him.
"Are you feeling better?" he asked, his brows furrowed with concern.
"The bar is pretty low for that."
His laugh cut her off.
"I'm fine," she said, grinning.
His fingers found hers again, lacing through them like they belonged there.
"How long have you been living in Drakenfell?" he asked. Sensing her hesitation, he added, "I won't tell anyone. Just trying to put together the puzzle."
"I promise, I'm no puzzle," she said. "A little under a month."
Fin stiffened, completely shocked. "And you're being put in battle? And were crowned? And representing them at a war summit?"
Serena smiled and shook her head. "When you say it like that..."
He pushed her shoulder playfully and they both started laughing.
"That is ridiculous," he said, shaking his head. "Not the crowning part. That makes sense. But the war summit and battle after three weeks? That's something else entirely."
His arm went around her, and she found herself leaning into him with an ease that surprised her. It felt natural. It felt right.
Then the confusion hit, followed closely by guilt.
She really shouldn't be doing this. Not until she got the annulment sorted and she processed her heartbreak with Dex. She knew this was wrong, and yet she couldn't bring herself to pull away.
His voice broke through her spiraling thoughts. "My fated mate passed away a few years ago."
"We met when we were eighteen." He laughed fondly at the memory. "Within a week she was crowned and marked, so I understand why you were crowned so quickly."
Serena's chest tightened.
"We were visiting her family when she was poisoned. She miscarried and passed away in my arms." His voice cracked on the last word.
The silence between them felt heavy and sacred.
Finnick never spoke of this. She could tell by the way he forced out each word, like he was pulling them from somewhere deep and locked away.
"I'm sorry that happened to you," she said quietly, and she meant every word. "That must have been so hard."
"It was," he answered. "I lost my father the year before, and I struggled for a while after she died." His voice cracked. "Grief does things to you."
Serena swallowed. A deep sadness welled up inside her chest, almost like it was her own, and yet somehow not. She felt protective over him in a way she couldn't explain, and hearing that he had gone through something like that made her ache in places she didn't know she had.
"Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me."
She stood so she could properly hug him and threw her arms around him. Her hug meant a lot to him. Her listening meant even more.
Fin hugged her back then pulled her onto his lap.
Without hesitation, he kissed her. He'd been dying to.
The taste of him short-circuited every rational thought she'd been holding onto. She kissed him back.
Their kiss deepened, and became more urgent, as if she were oxygen.
The guilt was still there, lurking in the back of her mind. But she wanted to kiss him, and that want was louder than everything else.