a's

m before I

ant, heavy, impossible to ignore. I pressed myself against

hought. "I always used to

, quiet satisfaction threading through her

eter the moment they entered it-that particular stillne

rprised. "Why would they stop

omplete idiots," Tala

rest suddenly felt smaller, tighter, like it was closing in around me-

where ahead. Soft. Co

aid, narrowing my eyes. "Th

lied. "And announcing it. Very d

," I noted, my voice

hey're hunting smar

nd the feeling was insulting enough to make my

ave alread

homing signal. You could cross three territories and th

ot while I was still in their territory. Not while the bond hummed between us l

ep

he trees, and my heart sla

" Tala said. "Maybe he grew a conscience

" I thought back.

Ayla," he c

d something in my chest that I didn't want stirred, and I

ou can't hide from them. Not here. Believe

I closed my

aight through like I wasn't worth the effort of seeing. Cold words. Cold eyes. A life spent mak

re," I decided. "I'm n

You're afraid of what happens if you actually stand

rified,"

afraid of what happens if you d

the bond," I

" she replied. "Annoying, I know.

sted. "I walked away last

lightly. "But the bond doesn't negotiate. It doesn't

osed to do?" I asked

ply. "Preferably with mo

and left a bitter

t the edge o

loser than

s set and tense, but his eyes weren't cold the

nds clenched at his sides and body coiled tight, l

t and almost relaxed. Watchin

kly before any of

pered, panic flickering throu

start humming something dram

ot leaving

ey came for you. They'

llowe

thing I was absolutely certain of. Years of tor

said. "But you can't ignor

" I thought

o end badly. I'll be right here watching it go badly, thou

more time-r

ght, but his eye

ighting

f someone who had always been wi

to face them," I

Tala said. "That girl is gone. You're not a doorma

ttled inside

Show them you won't accept what they gave you be

ost s

urt me,

you don't have to forgive that. Not today. Not ever if you don't want

forget it

package. But don't let it make you run either. Running

inside me-slow and

t run,"

Now go. Try not to t

Their scents seeped in through the cold

out from beh

e immediately, and

, and the bond pulled taut between us-sh

oved for

t beneath the surface. Not the quiet buried kind I'd spent years sw

Tala said, something satisfi

t run. Just stood there in the cold and let them

ze locked

t complet

hat quiet intensity

long as I could remember, n

ight at me-like I was

*