ya's

ntinued drinking from the brook, the cool water

, my voice trembling.

thout meeting my

don't work

th me. I could feel it, and it hurt m

"That night, he came to my house. I didn't ask for any

ion s

, his eyes searching mine. He rea

said, soft but sure

d I exhaled in relief, my shoulders f

rate cry from behind us. Two captives had somehow slipp

men calmly began retying the remaining prisoners, yanking them to their feet, guid

d pulled out the bread I had tucked away earlier. Without drawing at

up at me, a soft smi

ou," he

quieted the storm inside me. It made ev

dier stepp

n's wrists and jerking him upward. Zevarion rose withou

stopped me, no eyes followed. Because I rode with Xareth, the soldiers didn

irtied clothes. I washed myself quickly. When I finished, I reached for

old gown. The water, once so soothing, now rippled with

ey all thought, that I was the cursed one, the one who brought doom upon the pack, b

es to dry, letting the wind do the rest. That was when I heard i

e trees with two of his men. One carried

ask. I knew exactly who they belonged to, the

ives, his expression as casual

anything funny, didn't

ter all. No," he said, tilting his head mockingly. "I'm

nned, stomach lurching violently. The soldiers tossed a head into th

e retched, ohers turned

dst the horror,

ing of escaping?"

spoke o

le stunt, there will be no food for you tonight. No rest. We walk until tomorrow nigh

walked away, no o

ng into the lifeless creature's hide. His men had already eaten, of course they

k, because I knew we'd be leaving soon. As I walked past t

t we've been reduced to

face was gaunt, his eyes hollow, yet

ler. "Of course she likes it. She's just lik

. I kept walking, but each step felt heavier than the las

ge to dry, using the wooden rail to hang the fa

draped along the window edge, fingers tapping laz

up," he said, eyes flick

. I had given the bread to Zevari

doing before drinking the soup,

nod

mething earthy, rosemary? Thyme? I wasn't sure. I tasted it carefull

e for a while, then asked, "Are

aus

ightly. "Do you want

s if punishment were a token he co

reath. "No. I d

rong about you?" he as

I understand why they

gave a single nod

a cloth. Then I turned to him, meeting his gaze for the

you nic

is head, as

y from the others?" I asked again.

e window, to the view outside, the forest thinning

intrigue me, Vireya. You're not afraid like they are. Even now... eve

n't s

es," he added, "I don't want to ki

ed again, barely

you s

ed. "Se

"I like you. No, scratch that." He leaned fo

ust of wind, knocking the air from my lungs. My heart stuttered

ked, s

ed mate, Vireya. My wolf calls out to you

he moment we met. But... I hadn't sensed it. Not the way the stor

trailing off as I searched for the

t with another smile, this one more

ys come at once. Sometimes the wol

't say

lade. "Stand beside me, rule Crimson Dusk at my side. You're not m