rch was

ed the halls during morning prayers, nor t

o

like a held breath. The kind that made shadows stretch too

e that meant somet

ix at the altar, his hands folded as if

nger along the polished wood. "After al

ad, as if waitin

e c

m, the carved face of Christ

's smir

r over the empty pews. This church had once been his h

g more than a stag

priest. A calling

his secrets hidd

ark hair. His body still ached from the transformation

arried her through the misty woods,

k castle, he had felt the pull-an unshakab

uel

n him hated

the

still ca

he pews when no

o the silence, even when he

oise broke

tst

snapped up. His

e was

t as the door

figure

ther Be

s stiff with age, but her gaze

reeted, her voice stead

charm and warmth. "I

e studi

ment, neither

h

you are," s

but they struck like

t falter. But the air

rous.

w step forward. "I was hoping we woul

e didn'

ed around the ro

e said. "I have heard the whispers. I have

red eyes

with this... revelation?"

p on the rosary. "I will f

Brave words from a

dn't f

ircling her like a wolf stalking it

lifted

ther Michael

rd st

twitched a

g-irritation? Amuseme

athed. "So y

d herself to stand firm. "You are a mons

gh his nose, shaking

ash, he was i

he could see the sh

could feel the heat ra

wor

lelight

eached for

ped around her wrist b

rmured. "You don'

tbeat pounded a

, his breath warm

spered, "you'll keep pret

h

let

tumbled ba

on was unreadable

other," he said casually. "

e said

rd the exit, her footsteps

watche

he turned back

irk re

d a goo

th

only the

es in the church, deep in th

hed. Her mi

remembered was runn

lying on so

vision adjusting

in the vill

ed different.

bed sh

ne. To

creak

h te

tsteps a

ice-small,

om

breath

eyes landing on a child

efoot. Dressed in

sn't just

new thi

ed in the tear-streaked dra

of the miss

blood

I?" she

girl tilt

Daddy's

rs curled int

dd

another question, the

o be so happy

h

rned and sk

ith in the

on

ap

ng something

t just been t

een keep