y bladder. Six months along now. Six months since Kael's hands shoved me into the sno

ke hanged men. Mara hums as she grinds juniper berries, her silver hair frizzing i

ting to a stool. "Let's

cing. Mara presses her ear to my

, her front tooth chipped from a fight she won't des

not my

s. "Tell *

the doorway, snow dusting his shoulders. His amber eyes dart

lace." I grab a mortar, crushing y

ace. "Riva's got you hauling water bucke

stle down. "Out.

ters, "Stubborn fool," and hands me

in the curtain. He sharpens his axe by the firepit

*

g, I stagger on the icy path. The b

stead

Jarek grab

yank back, but

ll fa

racks. "You don'

omething raw flickers in his gaze. Then it's

ldn't wound me

"Take them, then. Since

tates.

to the den, ignoring

*

ains from hunting tunics. My ha

e up. "You'll scru

a sa

e to her hut, forces tea into my hands.

but I sip it. "Why a

d herbs. "Had a daughter

happ

ds still.

I stare at my t

r healer." She tosses me a

d lavender-said it reeked of humans. But J

ls into my palms. *H

*

*Kael's sneer, the stranger's breath ho

lcove entrance, a sha

aw

rouches, his heat cutting

ou can mock me? Use

ens. "You thi

ll men th

ang, poison

nds abrup

uilt curdles

*

he pup's breech," she says, kneadin

es. "Will

minty paste on my

r as her hands press hard.

en. Jarek lunges in, dagge

Mara

hand. His palm is calloused,

b brushes my knuckles,

operly. Mara nods, satisfied. Jare

ou," I w

"You're not

els emptier w