ra'

my face even befor

s. I blinked my eyelids, staring at the ceiling, and for a second, I didn't know where I was. Then the familiar

st night? I remembered leaving school. The cold air. The moon is huge and bright. A

red toast and honey dr

called out, mas

ched me, soft but firm. "I was

the stove, her gray hair pulled back, her movements slow and sure. She flipped a panc

g down. "How did I get here? I

ame home late last night. I found you curled up on the couch, f

e couch with the front door unlocked. And my head never hurt like that unl

usual," I said

hand resting on he

at down. Kaelen Blackwood, cold and cruel, telling me I was in his place, in his school, in his air. Lila

knew all my secrets, demanding to see my locket and ordering m

l her knuckles turned white. When I mentioned Roderick, her lips pressed into a thin, hard line. And when I finished, when I told her abou

f she needed to occupy her hands. "You must stay

ey looked at me like I was a criminal. Kaelen acted like I had committed a crime just by breathing the same air,

sion was a mix of sorrow and fierce protection. "You don't understand the depth of what you're holding onto, Elara.

ghtly. "What are you talking

oss their path, whatever it costs you. Not Kaelen. Not Roderick. None of them. If they speak to you, walk away. If they stand

me to the bone. "W

That's all you need to know. They don't play fair. They don't forgiv

chest tightening. "

es everywhere, eyes in the trees, and ears against the walls. They don't

g with a sudden surge of frustration and fear. "If you knew

there thinking it would be safe. That they wouldn't look for

My heart race

need to leave early. Go straight to class. Don't stop. Don't take shortcuts thro

le. "I walked out of that school last night and heard things in the woods. Things that d

y that silenced me instantly. She took a deep, shuddering breath, her shoulders saggi

ght with questions she would

y bag from the liv

en. It's just a crack. Enough

er had said she found me asleep on the couch, w

andle, neat and shiny against the dar

t. Too big.

ad carefully laid it down before leaving,

ck fe

en in dark, dried ink

u are. And I'm