a's

and cracked in the lines of my palms, leaving a memory that water could not erase. I had killed som

idn't r

tearing at my chest for the soul I had stolen. But all I felt was this heavy em

hat rogue's neck. His golden eyes had si

ght, sitting by the fire we had built in the

silent, staring

this time. "The body might forget, but the hear

me long after he

e I was a weapon he was sharpening for war. He didn't hold back, not even when

the clearing like a predator. "Then act like it. Y

ose des

h me like a second pulse. My wolf, once quiet and afraid, began to roar inside me, be

mu

me or the way he moved like a god of war. It was something deeper. A shadow he wore like armour. I saw

fessed the reality as the sky

sat on the riverbank. A fresh cut on my chee

pain. It ke

ow," he said, voic

m, my heart al

s Lucian," he said, eyes staring

eath

I was never enough for my father. Not cold enough. Not cruel enough. Lucian was their

my fists curled in

tood by and let it happen. So no, Zara. I don't w

fire and ice, and I felt it

face me. "Take everything he thinks belongs to him. His pow

adness. Danger

want

vengeance, no longer timid, no longer broken. Each punch I threw carrie

hina's. Her fake smile. Her delicate voice. The w

il, pushing Lucian to make brutal choices that drove a wedge between him and his people. Wolve

s wor

ng. And he didn't ev

t survival. Some feared me. Some respected me. And a few even followed me. Kael said they

eir fear and shape

lie awake and stare at the sta

eamed of love? Or was I someone else n

be

potted me sitting

o me and said, "You a

him. "Strong enou

, but his eyes wer

ng blade of sil

know I would follow yo

est go

do not just want revenge

and my breath was short. His face did n

ld say anything,

lo

th jum

of the trees. He gasped, "They are coming." "Pa

got brighte

twelve. Going

t. "Do they know

away. "No." However, they

ut. "Put everything

ves moved. Weapons disappeared into t

too late

rough the air and hit a

was att

the forest with Kael's huge silver form. Growls came from behi

him, I coul

ci

like a st

mething else-something r

a ridge above the battl

gold in the moonlight. His armor gleamed with silver runes. Seraphin

seen me.

begging to leap.

tense. "We can take him,

my head. "No

he felt something. His ga

uck

en me. But h

s breath. "We wait,

old. "We wait, we des

scream pier

of our rogues. It w

heart st

es widene

r

ees. Through s

en I s

en log. Her eyes were wide with terror. And ab

think.

p. One

I stood over the girl,

shed in her eyes. "Are you th

ked. "

ho survive

r. I scooped h

fr

s the field. Alone

yes l

I

w I wa

ra?" he whispered, loud e

d turne

me, but I couldn't mo

fted-shock, disbelief,

ses

stepping forward. "You'

th

rt struck K

eyes wide,

ed, catching h

olves surg

as surr