o hear who the v

me to run. I backed away from the oak door on the tips of my toes, my heart slamming so hard I was sure th

try of a wolf and a bat circling a silver moon. The c

uiet, practiced speed of people who had done this many times. One walked with a heavy, measured tread and smelled of pine smoke. The o

woman murmured. "Not to the

said. "Not until

f it i

od help

ff. Only when the silence had settled completely di

help

the tapestry hanging over me like a curtain. My hands were trembling. I had no idea who those

age. I only remember cold air on

ed on every petal. The roses were so dark they looked carved from obsidian, and when the wind blew they gave off a sweet, smoky

out my father. Both of them knew,

dn't be out

rled a

came out in pale clouds. He looked as if he had been walking for hours, and the shadows

n't sleep

stopped, as though an invisible line ran ac

s co

es went over my face, quick

id God help us, but something stopped me. I had known Kael for two days. He was a prince, the Alpha's

I said. "

me for a long moment, and I

to lie to me,"

m n

came out wrong. I'm sorry. I'm trying to say that I can tell, and I

the roses between us. Somewhere above the wall, the moon slid out from behind a ban

It came out smaller than I in

a long, sha

ou walked through those gates, something in me has been..." He pressed a fist against his sternum,

ed. "You said something, or

still. "What

e w

ch w

d heard nothing, and now I couldn't take it back.

lf. "I'm not sure myself. I need to speak to someo

rned over. "T

ed a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry. I should go. I've been

it b

smile touched his mouth. "Get some

n he turned and strode out of the gar

ng the roses, listening

d not help myself, I lis

s and reached for him, I could follow the sound of his boots across the courtyard, up the long stone steps of the Wolf Wing, and a

hear a fire crackli

ath

utterly commanding, every syllable laid down like

at tower, and I should not have been able to hear a word. But

Father. I

apologies. I

boots shifted on

refully. "The scholarship admission

hing in the Alpha's tone sharpened. "A thin girl

t when I met her, Fathe

k pla

ke up. He's never done that for anyone, not once in ei

d wh

ear Kael breathing, and th

ine," Kael

d different. Even from this distance I felt it press

spoke again, and h

slowly. "Tell me exac

omething I can't place. Cold. Like snow. Like rain on ol

on old

es

open, and the roar of the wind as the Alpha strode to a window. I heard h

said, almost to hi

? What

me her

ions letter said..." Kael h

ower. Even the fire se

oice I heard something I could not name, part dread, pa

u know

pause. "Elias Crowe w

art s

the

the Council. Not to the vampires." The Alpha's voice dropp

Ye

again, and the sound of a heavy hand coming down on th

y," Roderic Thorne sa