l's
wounds before
curses etched in flesh. But I had never touched so
ftened bark. She was quiet now, but her pain ha
nt... gods,
petals. Like something I should
I
than need. Anything to keep my hands busy. Anything to keep my eyes away from
ed, scratched, mar
had don
lt it the moment her blood cried into Hollowveil, li
I brought
I couldn'
I shou
tle made m
s watc
eyes
om con
roze when she realized the blanket
bbed it
uttered, redirecting m
ind of
voice. Not sharp. More
standing. My voice came o
through worse,"
aus
ed b
t the cabin wall, clutching the blanket
ro
uti
mn bea
ou want," she
ched. "Don'
at me like you regr
lin
use maybe I did regret it-not because I didn't w
said instead. "You
ought I had," she murmured. "M
fr
felt
ma
t had acc
t supposed
u bring me
uld'v
just a foot away. She tilted her head
now," I sa
aga
sita
felt you break, somet
hung heavy
me. Like she was trying to see
to save," she
you're st
reason-and pushed a strand
n't pul
ushed her cheek.
I was drowning
d. Stepped back.
e said softl
It surprise
brings home a girl with blood magic in her veins, lets her sleep
dn't a
dn't h
et fell around her shoulders, still shielding
he whispered. "Or we can admit there's s
red a
mine, vulnerable
its own, hovering
didn't
oul
e if I
ldn't
ain, retreating behind the wa
ured. "And things I don't under
flin
then she nodded, turned away, and w
to call
I di
between us weren't
hs we weren't
t
-
, I watche
use I wa
I couldn't
the forest didn't know. Her skin shimmered faintly, and I cou
as ch
e if I was meant
ne she'd hav
the cabin walls. Outside, Hollowveil murmured in its sleep,
d not to breat
er breathing was light but uneven,
ser-quiet,
of sweat on her brow. I knelt beside her and di
forehead, she flinc
ing the damp cloth gently acro
whispered something I
ned c
on't
art t
in the clearing. But I couldn't. Not when she looked like this-strong even
g. The moment lingered too long. I pulled
cloth when I heard h
" I turn
ight, eyes wide,
she whispered
fr
t sh
met min
le
ing metaphorically. Until I saw her eye
sked, carefully sitting
tanding in the trees, bleeding. Your eyes were gold. But behind yo
d not
since childhood. One that came every year on
me to choose. Between savi
rply. "That w
ze sna
maybe a warning. The magic in
ale. "What d
n't a
ruth was... I
nary. It wasn't just blood-magic or destiny. I
was w
gently than I meant t
inked.
ur shoulder blade. It shimmered when I brought
t the blanket slip down. Tur
opped br
car-but something etched into her soul. A crescent moon
o
rd it, but my
pered, "where di
always been there, but
rse it
it was
il
hout touching her skin
n the ruins beneath the temple. It's older tha
her shoulder. "W
d into
you're not just a girl cast
hard. My v
ething the forest ha
elief. "You think I'm s
you're a threat. And a
d at eac
een us shifted-no longer just from c
r thic
hould sleep. We'll spe
walk away, her fi
fr
ae
in the dark. "Thank you.
ining with something I couldn't name. G
lf, I leaned down and pr
dn't
e than a kiss-like a
between th
-
sleep t
doorway, watching Holl
breath rose and fel
deep in the
thin
g bound
hispered