na

f it-felt less like a sanc

. The empty space on the wall where our photo used to hang stared

to feel something other tha

eggings and a tight compression tank. I

full, casting a cold, silver light ov

parring, the sound of flesh hitting flesh and

ra

its absolute limit. My lungs burned. My legs pumped like pistons. I

sn't

le course. Specifically

ed with ropes and pulleys, designed to

. I was faster than him, even wit

ick hemp rope an

hand. Pul

wenty feet.

ng moment of peace. Up here, I was just a body in motion

for the fi

NA

f overstressed fibers. Just a su

n my hands

y took

air rushed past my ea

he grou

RA

blinded me for a second, stealing the breath from my lungs.

ng, staring up at

sickening angle. Bone.

he *Mind-Link*.

ted, the pain making m

le

asn't talking to me. He had

?"* Emilio's voice was tender, a to

cooed. *"Oh, look, Leo

boy,"* Emi

ar me. Or he

ain and rage leaking from my e

he rope dangl

frayed. It wa

ing to do with the ni

n't an a

ent lightning bolts of agony through my leg.

to the pack

irmary. The pack doctor, a kind

frowning as he studied the X-ray.

tes later. He smelled of

doorway. He didn't come to the bedside. "You

said, staring at the ceiling

t's wear and tear. You're just... f

intment on the table. "Her

throw it a

b stairs for a while, I've had your things moved to the

g. The serva

g me out of t

fore I cou

t me awake. My hearing, though

ices in th

hing?" It was Emi

r voice. Silas, Emilio's head Beta. The m

e's becoming a nuisance with these audits. A broken leg wi

had died?"

uneral," Emilio replied. "And I wo

art s

st neglect.

devoted my life to, had

dn't bring fear. I

a den o

e. I couldn't trust t

secure me

Ayla

right. About every

ack-the pack I had turned down for Emili

y came i

: Ay

g to the Auction next week. Hang in the

I looked at the jar of "hea

d the jar

avender, a sharp, acri

fsb

ill me, but it would slow my healin

oison me. He t

d the j

whispered to the darkness. "Fi