eel Kael's gaze burning into her, but she couldn't bring herself to mee

his voice held a dangerous edg

ong, burying her past so deeply, that speaking the truth felt impossible

nt," she admitted finally, he

tened. "I need

ere was a man," she began. "Someone I trusted. Someone I thought I loved. H

eak, though his gray eyes darkened

g. "He came after me and said I couldn't just walk away. And

s out. "That's when I realized he wasn't just dange

ion giving way to a flicker of unders

h them. I don't know why, but when I left, he swore h

e remained firm. "And you think he's

if he is, then it's my fault the

r fault, Lena. The hunters were coming for us eventually. Your pr

voice breaking. "If he finds me, he'll k

d, his voice a low g

ed to the den. Whispers rippled through the gro

hunters are regrouping," she said. "Scouts spotted them n

ession grim. "Then we

d forward, his amber eyes fixed on Lena. "What's her plan

id, her voice steady despite the fear twisting in her gut. "I know I've brought trou

what can you do, human? You don't hav

ng between them. "She's with u

ion hardening. "You're risking all of us

divide our forces," he said, his tone commanding. "Maren, take a group to the

bout you?"M

re going to the hunters' camp. It

ir way toward the hunters' camp. The moon hung low in the

is senses on high alert. Lena followed close behi

he asked, her voice b

heir numbers and their weapons. If we can

t," Lena

aint smirk tugging at hi

a campfire flickered through the trees. Lena's heart pounde

of tents and a few figures moving about. But the sight of their wea

ard a larger tent at the center of t

rom the tent, his movements deliberate and co

was

rom, the man who had

, his expression darkenin

ands trembling. "

d with intensity. "The

yed back, her heart pounding as she watched him close in on the first hunter. T

mp with her dagger in hand. Her breaths came quick a

r grip tightening on the dagge

to her, as he studied a map s

said, his voice sm

ned to ice. "

, turning to face her. His lips curled into a smile that

er than any human should be. But Kael was

ence and power. Lena could only watch, frozen, as K

alculating. He feinted left, then dro

reamed, rush

hing Elias's arm and forcing him to drop the

he said, his tone mocking

wasn't ov