he wind drained from my chest, forcing

shadows curling around the base so that only the

I screamed wildly, gasping when my voice

too long could drive even

a no

ues or madness if I didn't

edged, swaying lightly on my feet as I trudg

etween the trees m

st in an odd fluorescent light for a

dened in the darkness where I had seen a

screamed harshly, snapping up a tre

nding me, then I would cert

way out! I could

n, backing up into another fork in

fore my feet lifted from the ground, sending my b

until I rolled to a stop with

body and temples when I managed t

moon, my shoulders wracking with barely restrain

l from the clearing where I stood, bu

t of the darkness in one piece a

th, forcing one burning th

aling already, but I could still feel

dying.

the chatter of distant wolves

t to see Mother

she stand

ruly a

diers mounted on the slick black walls, their s

lves roared, leveling his bow at me before my e

their l

rame stood taller than m

in the darkness, raking over my body

es twist up on desire and reverence. He was a top e

isn't a fucking charity." The sec

. There was no doubt be w

" I managed to croak, but my voice sounded

rick walls, exchanging glances before th

ened forward violently, catching myself befor

n the wind howling between us, making my long

cut you down where you stand!" The figure bar

s and gaunt face hiding beneath his ruff

ut him, but the pounding in my h

from the half-open gates behind him, all dres

s. All

had I gotten

d, but my lips refused to move and

leader's strikingly handsome face b

allow bursts, and the flash of something bri

h pain when I tried to sit up,

Caius, we don't even know who the fuck she is!" a man's dis

wolf who must have rescued me, his h

ped down to my face as if

idened when he closed the distance between us

managed to

t until after the nursemaids see her?" Caius groaned, a hint of pit

o breathe and only whimpering when his sword

e seconds, bef