pte

ting outsid

or, I feel it. The cold in his s

l happened th

stone ledge near the edge of th

"You were in th

rs you could

rusted

"But I don't tr

that follo

ove. "What did

can't control the kingdom unless he uses me to get it. That the va

peak. He's fro

press. "

uspe

idn't say

g to protect

rying to contro

htens. "He'

at least he doesn't lie to

"He held a blad

et over my life. You

s eyes. Not anger. Something

anything, Kael ste

expected," he says lightly.

Rafe

le. "You look like you're

the hilt of

say. "Bo

ore me.

es his inner guards to the southern border. That's our w

antly. "Yes. But

ward the mill. "Th

all, we'r

the ridge. Rafe rides beside me, tense, silent. The full moon hasn't ri

w long have you kn

"I heard rumors. He

dn't try to

he wanted to be

trike me as someone who's

mething g

I was. He kn

eston, thinking I was no one.

Kael

fe sus

Purpose. Direction. For once, I'm not fumbling in the dark. I kn

ughter of t

ke back everything

The air smells of pine and moss. Kael gathers dry w

flame, arms a

dried ration ba

emembe

at half the food

tasted like

"Some things

"Why didn't you t

ops m

one who you were, you'd be dead in a week. Cyru

liev

I don't

ng ash from his glov

tands.

e three wolves. Watchin

us's

ly. Or

when we

wl. Shar

er his breath.

aws his

ife at my hip

e eno

to see a figure ste

n black. His face is

know

reezes

lifts

e green. Co

per, "

enses.

. "Before the rebellion. He van

" Lorne says.

ping forward. "Yo

de. "I survived. Th

oth motion, he slashes toward the fire, sending

ashes wi

t he catches my arm an

t him," he says

Lorne back

oesn't

s at me

says quietly. "Not when the people a

od tur

you talk

sn't r

ing from his belt and th

nicator crys

the c

t up, His fa

cking rune on

narrow. "Tha

e says. "

p slowly.

n your ba

breath leav

not po

turns dark. "Then

know. They're coming. And none o

nishes int

o

turns

knew where

on

Then there's o

ha

s me in

traitor i