a r

rstood something that her mind did not. She pushed through the edge of the cr

ping, the whispers, and the cruel laughter became a faint murm

not sl

stumbled and almost fell, but she kept going until her lungs burned and her side ache

y wanted to be somewhere

g. She wrapped her arms around herself and fought to catch her breath. For a whi

tears c

ried for the prince who had looked at her as if she were nothing. She cried for her mother, w

where," she whispered to the

ot answer. The

Only a raw, aching hollow remained. It felt as though someone ha

nd a fresh wave of grief rolled over her. She could not go back for

t had been like carved stone. And yet, at the very end, she had se

he told herself bitterl

alk to the nearest village and ask for work. She had no money and no family, but she had tw

e whispered. "Whatever hap

hat she notic

the clearing and painted the grass and the fallen log in warm colors. But w

s not coming

coming

glowing beneath her skin, and now it was much stronger. Thin lines of gold ran along

ing to me?" Her

rd, as if she could wipe the glow away. It

. Some became weak and sick. Some lost their minds. Some, people

out. It was not the cold, tearing pain from the courtyard. It was something co

y herself. The grass under her hands curled and tu

hands back and

ints were burned

said, and her voice shoo

her girls had told her about calling their wolves. Breathe slowly, the

for two years. She

reached deep inside herself, past the pain and the fear, searching

he silence inside he

e was not empt

s wai

t a wolf. It was warm, ancient, and enormously powerful. Being near it felt like standing beside a

es fle

you?" she

zed so brightly that the clearing looked as bright as noon. Shadows leaped and danced betwe

her now, rushing along her veins and filling every part of her. Her skin grew hot

ease stop. I do not kno

e did n

seemed to tilt and spin around her. She fell onto

flames that had sprung up around her fing

not hurt

ere deep inside h

e had ever heard. It was low, warm, and fierce, like th

up, da