tte

ilent, a reputation for cold brutality. I'd pictured an older man, weathered by command, radiating the kind of authority that came from

ter through fingers. All I could focus on was the man in front of me, the way he commanded th

d power, had to be him. He ha

I could muster. I hurried forward, but I didn't stop at three paces-I closed the di

nally get to meet you! I've dreamed of this moment-your face,

egends say! They told me you were fierce, but they forgot to mention yo

o correct me, to say something-but a single, sharp glance from the man silenced him. His eyes fli

sion, stepping back to restore a proper distance. A flicker of pure astoni

smeared across my cheek-and I could have sworn I saw the briefest flicker in them. Not warmth, not anger. Recognition, may

d of our Pack, the wall that holds back the Rogues, the silver spear that pierces the darkness! I use

parse memories of the Regent, laying it on as thick as possible. My

ent story, though. The corners of them had narrowed almost imperceptibly. He w

ake emotion. "Lord Regent, I beg you, grant me you

e smooth and utterly devoi

ught my flattery was working,

was a chilling sight. The smile never reached his c

I had gambled,

ed." Then he looked back at me. "Come wi

But I was already moving, already following him, and my exhausted brain filed the inconsistency away under "perhaps h

g the doubt to take root, my h

damp. I noticed the guards stationed at intervals along the passage-but as we walked

paced further apart, leaving pools of shadow between them. I glanced down at the stone floor and saw fa

g. I opened my mouth to ask where we were going, but his pace was br

ent. If I ran, would I make it past the guards? Or would I just prove whatever s

t wal

turned, and the smile was gone from his face,

s into the silence. "Your performance was impress

heavy door groaned open, and I stumbled into darkness. Behind me,

ewhere in the blackness ahead, I heard a low, r

g cold stone, my heart pounding so ha