ollowed us into

dn't pass but pressed its will on the land and listened for a reason to strike. Rain lashed the c

storm belonged to him. Every step he took said, "Follow me, or fall behind." And I hate

?" I called, raising my voi

glimpse the sharp angle of his jaw.

I reme

olding her broken

hinking he wou

look in his eye

and the distant growl of thunder. The forest was darker here denser, older. The kin

. Not just the twin bond, but something deeper. A soul-echo. A tether I didn't know could be cut un

Kade said finally. "Where the

cracked. "Why wo

s hair was plastered to his face. Hi

id quietly, "she doesn't need a

hard. "Somet

nod

p again, slapping

od, Kade. She was the kind one. The one who be

she sti

hell does

gh to see the flicker of some

cond chance. Just not

er for that. Not one

t the curve of the mountain. Its walls were split and mossy. The doo

apped myself in one of the scratchy blankets we found. I sat on t

stood at the window,

he muttered. "I

. "But it's not...

s flashing. "T

rayal. It was like someone else was inside me digging through

alone," I

. And somewhere beyond the trees, somethi

ams cam

n that bled. The roses were black, their petals soaked in crimson. Lira

t me," s

u walke

let

ound pulsed under my feet

sweet. Not cruel

onster," she s

screamed. And I woke up gasp

his hand gripping my

re, now dim. "She'

ly. "She's ins

the next

and whispers. The air got colder. The shadows grew lo

r that?"

ed. His he

isp

s," he said.

, circling a fire. Their hands moved in rhythm. Their mou

," Kade breathed.

dy to charge. But

t. W

I saw

Skin pale as frost. And around her neck our

God," I

Lira lo

ght a

. And I felt her inside me again thi

my mind. "Come and s

r

not

ard

d the

hatever

n't ma

d like a mouth unhinging. I screamed as

wallowed e

bottom, I d

t bre

t thi

ard her vo

e, it wasn't

s beh

id, voice soft. "It's easier to br