ld bit

elonged there. Snow crunched under her feet as she walked the Frostveil perimeter at dawn, breath ste

id no

er saved anyone

kled. Wolves shifted forms without ceremony. T

la

from the tree line, cloak dus

king since befor

eel the border

nd

Elara said. "Th

. Obedience breaks

d them, branches creaking softly, snow sliding from needles. Elara

"You're still b

kno

the

m ch

her. "Cha

d. "Otherwise you don'

wide below them, stone buildings nestled like they had grown fro

d," Elara said. "

curved slightl

sorbed

fear. Not

ed somew

at followed

stveil did not coddle. It watched. It waited.

not yet understand. Some nights, she woke gasping, hard pres

rew re

evening as they watched Mira sit cross

murmured nearby, not unki

not corr

safer than dan

the pain c

rld tilting. She tried to stand and

hispered. "You'

faintly. "Go

ira d

d sharp. Elara gripped the

doorway moments later,

ed. "I think.

ast then, calling for help, steady hands g

he said calmly

sure she be

and grounding all at once. Elara screamed once, then

her arms, small and warm

dly. No

rel

almost at once. S

ing," someon

orehead to her daug

intly, then retrea

with a gasp, hand

healed

e change demanded patience. Rowan checked on

d one morning as Elara sat with Mira w

dange

owan admitted.

nd Elara's thumb. The contact sent a ge

r be used," Ela

gaze. "Then te

s stayed

ow deepened. Fro

d to listen to the land, to let power move through her without forcing i

fast," Row

s has," El

practiced partial shif

r," sh

es

oming c

a fr

but directional. Not i

w tightene

es

ant me to

the question. Tru

aid at last

asleep against her shoulder. The wind cut sharp

osed h

ed," she whisper

sed once, as

ull he could no longer ignore, unawar

against the cold, felt so

o longer

as be