ghost. Three days until the marking ceremony, and Ai

with claws. Every time I replayed his words, hope and doubt waged war in

meant facing the wilderness alone, marked and hunted. Staying meant subm

arm ached where they'd cut me, a thi

unger; I felt it in their star

s were rotting

The Elders' lodge held answers-

cloak and slipped out,

's core, stone dark with age.

wall, heart pounding

gap, Morna's voi

til the marking ceremony. The great blood offe

I pressed a hand to my mouth, stifling the scream that threatened to rise from my core. Behind my eyes, visions unspooled-my bo

lf-blood. Use her up, disc

Like nothing. My fists cl

think Derek's cl

That'll kill her. There'

rost. "You're soft, Derek. She's a mea

d. Kill me? And D

napped. The voices stopped. I

chest heaved, t

in me under that red sky, and Derek's "

lie-I'd been a

the fringe-half-blind, half-mad, but wise in

dust thick. He squinted through mil

ked girl want

irm. "My blood hea

e healing's a bond-willing hearts, shared stren

ll. "If they

"Like your father. He tried to t

like a fist.

ack." He leaned in, breath sour. "T

All my life I'd wondered about the man whose blood ran in my veins, whose legacy I carried unknowingly. Now the truth crashed do

ht Silver Creek came. Had he been there? Had he let it

was death, and Derek knew. His "

the trees-pine and

I paced, Elric's words cla

run, but my half-bloo

lan-food, a

e me freeze. I crept to the

ck to me. Aileen faced him, her gol

ped. "You're soft on

making sure her v

the marking cerem

laugh softened, triumphant.

t weep, w

y eye. Jason approached, his familiar stride

Jason's voice carried clearly. "Her little healing tr

" Derek replied, tens

f a cup of her blood? And now what-you expect her to sud

damaged her. She'll never experience blood awaken

t know that. The marking might have activa

warmth. "The pack needs a real healer, not so

n for the great blood offering, what then? When they need enough blood to heal th

s shoulders rigid, his ha

ched, damning in

ietly. "You've always put duty first,

t me-my blood. I backed aw

or me-for what I migh

d my tongue, choking me. The walls of the cabin pressed in, suffocating, mocking. How many times would I all

test, the lingering warmth that had made my pulse leap. Had I imagined the gentleness the

broke skin. Never again. I w

s telling silence-they crushed me.

-willing hearts. Th

a sack-bread, a waterskin, a pouch of Elri

it off, dropping it with a note: I'd rat

I slipped out, the

in the clearing, unaw

nd vast, my breath misting. Thr