IA, AE

of Lucas and Sera's apothecary, casting a soft golden glow acros

dent. It was a far cry from the wary gi

as preparing morning potions and elixirs. "And check those rose hip

s with a critical eye. "You're right," she said, pulling out the discolor

"Look at you. Six months ago, you couldn't tell a rose hip from a b

tient teachers." Her fingers, once trembling and uncertain, now moved with precision, trimmi

ian root?" Sera teased. "You looked like you w

m the wariness that had once defined he

alls today," he announced. "The winter cough is making its rounds

"I forgot to ask yesterday, but have you see

e. "No," Sera said carefully. "Not sin

, I know I've asked before but what is he, exactly? He said he wasn't hu

not our place to tell you what he is," he said

eine started

ly, "are not for us to share. Dante

e was but they refused to tell her. They gave her the same answer every

that he had to be so

elixirs, bandages, and herbal compresses, Mad

, surprising herself

ea of venturing into the city, of interacting wit

he city's sounds no longer overwhelming but rath

warm and cluttered, filled with the sof

a carefully, her movem

er voice soft and soothing. The young boy, roug

re, before, she would have been awkward and uncertain, now she moved

ht as she pressed a cool cloth to the boy's forehead. "W

whispered, his voi

d, smiling. "I'm going to h

ul, explaining each step to both the child and his mother. "The chamomile will help c

stead, she produced a small honey stick from her bag, a trick Luca

stray tear from the boy's

amazement. "You're good w

n pleased. "I never thought I w

was sleeping peacefully, his f

blestone streets. They were walking back through a narrower street, t

from the shadows, b

e said. "Look what we have

The Moonshadow Pack still remembers you," he sneered. "The rejected wolf. The fucking freak.

er rejection, the humiliation, the isolation, and t

you don't have to do this," Mad

d a grating noise. "Nah. I

her grip surprisingly strong.

mmered. "He's gone. D

her voice permitting no a

in front of Sera and Madeleine, but they all knew they were no match for

t dry. Call for Dante?

nd called out to him, her voice

e need yo