pte

ra'

ent nearer Thorne, his shredded shirt displ

ght air, yet he scarcely flinched, his eyes pro

, disconnected. He looked away from me, his em

shing him to face me. "You could have die

y lash out. Instead, he moaned, running a hand ove

I can afford, Lyra. Not

to me!" My voice increased, t

tic warnings and half-truths at me, but

, Thorne. I have

g presence intimidating as

truth?" he hissed, his v

ruin everything you believe you know ab

even as his words sent

hat I can or can't handle.

shelter me from r

ace-guilt, maybe, or sorrow. But it was gone in an

added gently, almost to himself. "But it's not enoug

hat are you talking

rne's body tightened, his hand reaching to the dagger attached

e urged, his voice ba

houghts. The woodland was oddly silent, the regul

I saw it-a shadow, too rapid to be

ed, but he lifted a

ay be another rogue. But when it walked into the moonli

eatures highlighted by the feeble light. His smile was

rne's voice was stern, his gr

"Oh, I think you know exactly what I w

eject her. That makes thing

words set in. "What a

ard despite Thorne's at

t Lyra. You have no clue how

ld. But don't worry, sweetie. I'll ma

tween us. "You'll have t

malicious glee as he leaped forward, h

mendous force, their growls

ave and the need to help. But what could I do? I

his voice strained as he

as battling for his life. Not when the

, his urgency piercing

ane hurled him to the gr

ith victory. "Your knight in shining

he neared. "Stay away from me," I urged,

"Oh, I don't think so. You're coming

oke the darkness. From the shadows came a big w

appearance brought Zane staggering back, a

ed, but his arrogance was def

ve teeth snapping inches from his throat. Thorne

ed, his voice gruff bu

, the noises of the struggle fading beh

tion captivated me: What had

umping, she came face to face with an elderly woma

her voice dripping with uncanny c

land, the sound of my heartbea

rantic gasps, as branches

e, but I knew better. If I faltered, if I he

s abruptly disturbed by a low growl

zed it wasn't coming from the

ahead

apidly, scouring the darkness for the source of the sound. And sudde

alked out from behind a tree, perfectly unharmed. "You

my pulse racing.

t," he said, his tone nonchalant as tho

be strong, but they're no matc

sing to die. "They'll find me," I spat. "Tho

re enjoyable, don't you think?" He cocked his head, his eyes sp

me. And when they do, I'll

y instinct screamed at me to run, b

gh the darkness. It wasn't Thorne or Kael-it

ef moment, his attention shift

e mumbled, his con

. The roar seemed to reverberate thro

figure, larger than any wolf I'd ever seen, came into the cleari

ck. "Impossible," he muttered,

ention riveted on Zane. W

as the beast approached with an int

I turned and ran, the sounds of

dogged me: If it wasn't Thorne or