Aria

s stared at

the cold stone floor until my legs went numb, they hissed

idn

I was afraid

f what Kael wo

n't what I w

. Not directly. But I felt them-like every time I followed his stup

was

ing, I tried

eal or imagined-to cover my steps. I slipped through the south

did

re an illusion than metal. I crossed the foggy border where the

th

it

a

eel

nto my chest. I staggered back, gasping. The trees blurred.

, the mis

voice w

on't l

the house was big. You never sai

t think

he heat of him, the scent of wild

voice low, "I won't be

ed to

knees, and walked past him like he was ju

ide, I

got worse

eastern baths. Said

ike veins. Or the cold that soaked through my bones.

punis

new

t like a bruise. Eve

ted

y time I looked at the fog curling outside the windows, I wondered if somet

s win

ed that e

Kael

ed to r

get farthe

ry where the forest stops being a

rt on her skin and d

o

wouldn't

might

hummed stronger each day, brushing the edges of t

growing

answers I

swers I ref

Aria

idden hallway

il I pressed against the brick and it gave way,

vo

eep. F

oser, hear

made my blo

sharp. All of them staring at Kael as he stood at the ce

a

n hit me l

t belon

ver

etreat, my foot stru

echoed lik

all t

eyes fo

saw him-not the shadowy wa

Al

beneath

he gr

o one

even

dozen gazes that saw me no

His jaw was tight. His

aid-

ed and

, but I didn't care. I ran until I reached my room,

punish me

new

aybe part of m

t escape him, I coul

was only wi

Kael

aw to

ough to un

elled her on the wind, in the walls, i

ould p

nd to know

om their questions... I'd have t

t breaking her

eing the monster s

r a monster i

aiting in the

-

a vision, or her power starting to manifest), or do you want more of the slow

apter, deepening the tension, Aria's growing h

-

sleep t

ak of the stone felt like the house leaning

waite

dark tur

use yawned w

hen I

memorized turns. Counted steps. I thought I knew

halls

ases t

was sure I'd fou

ic

arp, fa

one ste

n f

there

a

oom lit by torches,

lv

glowed faintly even in the dim light, and every one

head sn

fell lik

cked

la

ly, stepping forward, every inch of

lost,"

from one of the

a hand to

en he

wasn't

s war

me show yo

ughly, but firm enough t

ut, his voice dipp

I won't be the only o

n't r

enched, hatred burnin

adn't just h

ed me I did

wo

sure I ev