ard's words settled over her like a noose tight

ng, they are

y her, what has

the candlelight too dim, the air

ers, forcing herself t

te, like a wolf toying with its pr

riddles, Richard! If there's something wo

a moment, then le

u wouldn't

jaw ti

the candlelight. "Do you think I'm the only monster in this story, Faith?" His

caught. "What a

d, "That Winter Haven has never been safe. Not

Fear gripped her just thinking a

Richard continued, "that you f

hard. "And what

his voice a whisp

is hunt

door shattere

d, his expression u

en, and a familiar

heart ached at

ered, eyes wide with something

ression darke

stomach

ack?" sh

ze flicker

n in th

blood

e, rolling his shoulders like a

nita. "And don't open thi

f those night wear and into something

dded quickly. Fait

. His usual smirk was gone,

er, not before telling her

e could react, he grabbed her wrist and said, "Congratul

ped as reality shifted around her. One moment, she was

as ou

arth and pine. Fog rolled over the landscape like gh

eleased h

s nearly giving out from

a breath "-what in h

ared her a glance

at him. "Tel

you I wonder how you will react to all the things you

er mouth-then

r p

t through

w wh

expression

ach twisting as shadow

s emerged fr

h featureless silver masks. Each one carried a weapon-

slammed agai

bored. "I was wondering

ked figures ti

rted voice rasped from behind the m

stif

d lazily. "Oh

rip on his wea

ce muttered. "A creature that

d yet, I always seem

took a step forwa

ime to react befor

r of

h of m

ht. One second he was standing

, he reappeared b

unch echoed th

nhaled

claws buried i

a strangled noise

s hand free, and

. Her mouth emptied the

two hunters

st

smi

Faith thoug

to tell bene

h

his

ch

it before

ir sh

ty itself

ce crashed over her, pre

d stag

eyes w

hadn't come

come to

imson eyes blazed as he fought against the un

rs steppe

s puls

going to

have been

have be

st

red panic sla

before she

t weapon-a fallen hunt

e sliced thro

hunters tur

plunged in

ise escaped

the weapon fr

ter col

emaining f

ly, he tur

ned her grip

udied her for

h

lau

g, grati

stomach

don't know,"

ers trembled

er chuck

he van

nto t

to the

the air

never been t

, uneven bursts. She collaps

e after wa

h

ned g

h tu

reathing heavily. The binding magic h

hesi

r her breath, she

to her knees

yes flick

hey just stared

barely audible, R

ust sa

ly. "Yeah, well. Do

rd ch

xhaustion f

psed into un