n't

't br

, too careful to be anyone from the village.

her t

now who they're talking about.

he room Rafe gave me is small, windowless, and stone-cold. Th

the door. Two. Maybe three. One is heavy, boo

s nowhere to hide. I grip the small knife I tucked into my b

atch

door cr

ne of them who

s R

uts the door quietly behind him. Hi

ard," h

I don't low

ay you came back." He crosses the room and stop

'm not r

s quietly, "

een us charged and still. "Then

weak to stand. That I'd bring

u l

ght yo

't understand. Something that makes

o I am, don't

you keep storming around the village

come to hi

ys. "You ca

ard. But it'

ath and shea

e do it on m

until ni

Alpha's Hall. The walls are damp and narrow,

casting long shadows behind him. I follow close, foo

e we goin

ur father," he says. "S

eyes. "Why h

've seen what Cyrus does to

't stop yo

lking. Turn

family alive. I didn't light the fi

face then. Not just g

did you do

Because they told me if I fough

t have a

d

silen

and keeps

recognize. The trees here are thinner, their bark pale

r me to crouch.

. Moss crawls up the walls. Part of the roof is missing. There'

't he

teps out from behind the tree is faster.

e sees

and d

amned," sh

red and sharp, with a long scar that cuts from brow to cheek. Her hair

trying to convince herself. "I

t remem

" she says. "Bit my finger and

k. "Ch

s the bow fully. "If you're here,

answers,"

d hand them over li

t to know who o

ods toward the hou

burns low in the hearth. The walls are lined with wea

blanket over a

g," she says. "He just didn't

?" I ask. "Why

kings don't run. He thought his guards wer

eren't

with half the night patrol

mach t

e the orde

eone else to do it. Someone clo

forward

looks a

ill. To

oing to like

y i

kes a

ncle, M

d tilts

Magnus died that night

cuts in.

snaps to

the fire. In the east woods. He

it. Took Cyrus's gold. Prom

oor's been ripped

I whisper. "He loved m

sed him power. Your father promised him

up, ches

to fin

ll," Ra

e things you

'm not making a promis

to the villag

me not to speak to anyone. I don't argu

us.

thought he died

he was the one

trayal. It's somet

ng seen, slipping in through the e

d the moment the d

he room. Watch

t," I

y w

u k

I didn't want to believe it.

d n

nt to kil

he door, hand

alia," he says. "We'l

he's

hours, staring

s arms lifting me high above the walls of Crescent

e hands had taken

falls again

he tunnel, sword s

re about th

es

ond tho

ly

wai

ave come ba

once, an

trees, Thalia appears ou

oblem," she say

ind?" R

s straig

is alrea