"What happens now?" Aria asked. "Nessa is deciding your fate. What do you want?"
"I want to leave," Mira said honestly. "Your pack is lovely, but staying in one place makes me restless. I want to continue my research, continue documenting gifts and how they work." She met Aria's eyes. "But I would like to do it with your pack's blessing rather than as a wanted fugitive. I saved your life. That should count for something."
"It does," Aria said. "But you also tried to manipulate me, marked me with tracking magic, and generally made my life difficult for months."
"True," Mira acknowledged. "So we are at an impasse. My crimes versus my redemption. What do you think the balance is?"
Aria thought about it carefully. "I think you are dangerous. I think you will always be dangerous because that is who you are. Someone who sees power as something to study and potentially exploit. I do not think I will ever fully trust you."
"Reasonable," Mira said.
