c never shows the secr

________

st time I'd been able to walk unencumbered in the village square since the Council's judgment. My walk was de

comprehending enough to waste a turn of the head. Two wolves whooped their blade

g us all to say something. Her fire only fell when we

Do you continue to pain

she did, her gray eyes did a slow sweep acros

a wolf stuck in mid-transformation, half-h

e," I told

ame to me the night you step

d it come in flam

ed only slig

etween visions. Wolves under eclipse moons. Eyes waiting at

sted any of th

a said. "The paint

Why haven't you informed the ot

hey wish to see. My brush is no

He's plannin

ast night. Asked me to paint a sc

ightened.

he Flameborn die

st's edge and looked out across the village lights. There was a cold t

in he's the o

And he's not afraid to burn ev

s he want

ryth

trees-not of a wolf. Som

were. My instinc

f us," I breathed

n something emerged out of the dark. Tal

a

't have come

here," he answered,

etween us. "Wh

lence. "I want to scorch this world so h

blood burning. "You'll burn wi

n," he said to me, his voice constricti

behind the veil of your father'

have stayed hidden, Elipha. Now

ne, like smok

ll, his words digging u

ed. "What d

d faced away from her.

-

the meeting hall's great beams. The air vibrated with

color into himself. He stood before the

begin the purging. The Flam

umbling, som

A new approach. One in which we co

on the other side of the vill

giances," he chant

-

hotter with each pace. Kael wasn't merely igniting the c

vented me f

od in the

thinking," she said.

at her. "

father survived the old wars as the last of the Flamebo

arder. "Wh

he mountains. If he unleashes it, it will n

wind that pounded at the wall

e to stop him. Finish it bef

ended with ours o

e not

room, her shape un

all

m her to Coc

together, surrounded

ay, the wi

it

____