of them moved - Lila standing defiantly beneath Adrien's claws, his sha

lingered l

onster.

ce as if expecting her to flinch - to see the horror, the revulsion he had earned a hundred times over. But Lila didn't step back. She tilte

ice thick with something darker

e. "You're not a mo

loak without breaking skin. For a wild second, Lila thought he might kiss her - if kissing was a thing for wolves and cursed princes. But ins

know what you've done? You bind y

ords slipped out before she co

you ask. The forest will devour you for it. The villagers - that

the way his pulse beat wildly in the hollow of his throat. "

ne wolf answered with a howl that made her bones quake - and yet, the sound no longer terr

hting an inner war she could not see. When he spoke,

s who cut these woods into farmland. If you stand with me - truly

a breathless defiance that

n it. Only something like mourning for the girl she h

la of Raven Hollow. If you wish to free me

his wrists pooling like dead snakes at his fee

ng one shackled wrist. His skin was co

t afte

ar, her trembling drowned by

bone-" Adrien whispered, voice c

t, by blood and

the keeper of thi

the keeper of thi

is, against man, against beast, u

stand guard beside his, against man, agains

d by a hush so deep her ears rang with the silence. Beneath her palm, Adrien's pulse leapt once -

flared brighter than ever. For the first time,

e growl returning, but softer somehow - rever

her in a rush. "

behind them. Adrien's ears twitched. His head snapped up

e hissed.

the clearing, torchlight flared, and the snap

poison. He stepped into view, flanked by two broad-

rin was all teeth, no warmth. "Looks like the

ins strained against his sudden lunge - but they

voice thundered, half-beast

is rifle to his shoulder. "Stay s

r fingers brushed the cool handle of the small boni

er chin, hea

a mo

wo

ht for him - even