oaked through

, the puppy tucked against her che

old-or maybe from the fear t

if her warmth alone cou

sound left her lips. Her breath came in sh

er face, her hair, her skin. Each gust stung l

ve a final,

. The puppy n

a fr

side, desperate for the faintest

bit of warmth drained fro

her throat. She had tried. She had sacrificed what litt

s fur. Snow clung to her lashes, melted on her cheeks

ted and the wind no longer screamed. Until the ache

lowly,

Her fingers burne

he garden, where the snow hadn't yet buried the ground completely, and began to dig with

down gently and cov

, she stood in silen

a had just finished ge

that suddenly stumbled into view, mak

a good look,

face pale as paper, and her hair and

ar," she said, voice laced with

idn't r

ntly taking her by the ar

sked, voice soft, almo

moved slowly

's

then offered a sympathetic smile

o sorry. You must

She ran her fingers through her hair, smoothing out imaginary imperf

fabric shifted-just enough to reveal a faint

king on the mark like a blade had sliced

expression twisted-sweetness curd

the polished floor, and leaned in

she whispered.

Then, low

y you look at him. But come on, look at y

tsteps echoed

tly. She raised her voice, loud a

fault yesterday. I ove

e cut throu

you apolog

a tu

, leaning heavily on a cane. He looked

spinning toward him in

r his arm, but stopped short when he sho

d and quickly

egan, her voice faltering, "about th

anced down, brows t

arply. Not a

Strays die. Tha

chest ti

, hands trembling as they l

was alive. It trusted me. It

gaze d

aid quietly. "Are

ved again, m

n look at him.

ing sn

his voice low but shaki

erything you have, is because I let you live in this house. I ra

hes from her. His v

victim here? You think

und came. She was trembling, h

e said. "Not when your last name is

ne against the f

again, but she d

d-something like regret, or maybe exhaust

rned

," he sai

s side, casting Lydia a sid

enry," she cooed.

lked pa

ilently, one hand at her throat. The oth

er head, vis

he exhaust of the