Chapter 34

Jovie awakens in a Kenta medical tent, surprised to find herself fully healed. Beau, a high-ranking officer and Acker’s sister, brings water and explains Jovie fainted from burning through her magic. When Beau casually mentions that the Alaha shifter, Messer, is being held for transport to the Kenta dungeons, Jovie rushes out to find Acker.

Moving through a wary camp, Jovie draws stares and silence from the soldiers. Hallis appears and leads her to Acker’s command tent, where Acker is planning with Commander Rango and other officers. After brief formalities, Jovie demands to know about Messer, but Acker focuses first on locating Beau and maintaining order.

As the officers withdraw at Acker’s command to prepare three thousand soldiers to move south by morning, Acker rebukes Jovie for undermining him before his men. He explains the troops are on edge because Jovie’s magic cleared the Dark Forest—long considered unbreakable—creating a newly open border seen by many as terrifying. He warns that her storming the camp makes it look like he cannot control her.

Jovie denies any intent to bring Messer and insists she didn’t know he had followed them. After a tense exchange, Acker accepts her answer, the strain between them eases, and their rapport returns. Acker arms himself and proposes they go speak to Messer together.