a

reverberated

ap toward the source of that sound. His eyes shifted toward it. Not tow

girl beari

orest

m ensnared since the instant

bowed, but he could see her face-flushed, pale, embarrassed. Her hands wer

o try before Kael closed

e heard th

s Aria

human

half-s

filled the air now, no longer distant but here. Pine and violets, fres

iled as he re

down beside her and laid

r

was against hers,

arm. Her breath still

string, her eyes snappe

ocked, her heart stoppe

id not recall where she was, who she was. Her universe condens

between th

e mark star

d his hand on her wrist. Her skin crack

. Perhaps Isla.

dn't move. Co

her skin, her wolf-her wolf-

anymore. N

ro

a

s doing. All he knew was

. His wolf exploded, struggling its way up through him. Not Isla. Her.

t-straight out

bo

ble. Irre

as hi

just cl

he one the elders had prepared for him. The one hi

inted to

oment, everyt

r

up in h

icate heart. Kael's hands were wrapped warmly around her wrist, his hold s

rk. Hi

-it cou

ly made an app

mask. "I don't know

ice broke out like a whip.

Muttering of p

linche

ling her with him. "I bran

m, stepping forward. Her face was pale with

ok away from Ar

a

a. The council. Isla's father.

Not with his wolf still st

lmed him. Her proximity grounded him. He felt her con

hing

mething deep inside her. That much was sure. B

his wolf want

promise. Not the p

e

beside him as if she was tryi

m more-what she was, or what

r

o take her a

gnal. Their hands were already changing

ael g

Kil

d. But it stopped eve

narled, "she s

's face twisted. "This is insa

ook at Isla. "

knees t

ma

s as if they were

as if they

tell what sc

a

er in the

arded and isolated. Not a

ed her t

ords. With

hours, listening to the rhythm of her breat

g in him not to b

drew a brea

forehead aga

sh I

r

lay

long. Her skin ached. Her bones were off

eyes. The way he caressed her. T

sten to the voice of Isl

inside her k

me in her life, somethin