didn'

ey'd met before. As if he'd been waiting years for this moment and had imagined it in his mind a hundred diff

en he

n Mael

ghtened. He k

wyn..., 'Elo

er's mouth was enough to make her st

ear her collarbone. A familiar warmth tingled there, beneath her sweater.

said, quiet, as though they were

he

hat was the signal. You may not know what you've

her more: his calm tone or the f

o leave wit

just show up at someone's apartment and tel

said simply. "You felt

ling the

They'll come but it won't matter

n his face, no impatience or threat. Just

sked, her fingers st

is Solric

ng faintly in her bones, like a note struck de

ime to find you, Elow

wh

head slightly.

y turne

ep back. "Don't. You don'

what they told you that he ran, that he was hunted

was told he was the reason her bloodline was broken. That he'd passed on nothing but a dead name and a ruined l

"Born human in a bloodline of wolves. Your mother tried to

a birthd

as a

ldn't b

or her to see the shadows shift behind his eyes. For a second, she thou

understand. Let

uld react, hi

ames inside his skull. The pupils shrank, sharp and animalistic. And then his voice d

ed back, one hand grippi

his primal energy, ancient and alive. Not a man in front of her now but

as quickly,

fted. He took a breath and said gently, "You have nothing to fear from me. I made an oa

rd. "You expect me

But if you stay here tonight, they'll come

er to shut the door and call for help, there was a deeper, quieter voice whi

minute." Her

Take it. But not

eart pounding, and stum

eater aside and s

s glo

something alive. She touched it, wincing at the burn. Not painfu

ow what to be

nd now this stranger with a name like a riddle, telling her the bi

h her hair and leaned

when sh

corner of her reflection s

, but the room

lights f

refrigerator cut out. A soft clicking sound ticked un

ker,he lightbulb

h

a

from the man outside

rattled the doorframe like some

...,

Solric's knock. It was something... primal, me

d inhuman whispered

owy

sn't

they hadn't come t