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