THE WOLF KING'S BRIDE

elder grove h

from the pat

r windows open

er speak of t

ll three before s

ng soft moss. Her name was whispered by the trees, though there was no one else around. The scent of rain

y curious a

had been sewn into dresses with shaky hands. At sunset, the villagers would place offerings at the tree line-toke

e forest st

the late afternoon sky. Its shape was one her mother called the Hu

t above her heart. A crescent-shaped birthmark, pale

it meant. Only that

ri

Lila came running across the field, skirts hitc

ceremony," Lila huffed. "M

ushing moss from her skirts. "She's

oing the blessing." Lila wrinkled her nose. "Creepy old

t gave a su

erent

into the woods and never come back." Lila ro

things. A forest covered in silver frost. A pair of golden eyes watching he

lled her the

le m

aid anythin

ack of the group; her silver-thread dress too tight at the sleeves. Her mother h

had warned. "Don

-but it always manage

veil of smoke and silk. She held a bowl of Moonwater and ash and moved

ached Aria,

ce that rippled t

t as moth wings, but it stung like frost.

was f

whispered a word in a language no one else k

he win

breeze

rings. The music died as every villager turned to

ened edge, so

crown, twisted like the roots of an old tree. And eyes-gold burning bright,

lled lik

," a voice

hadn't done

from stone and secrets. Yet something beneath his skin moved, as if barely

alking strai

move. Her heart pou

ed a bre

aid. Not a question.

him. "You're suppo

lmost-smile. "And you wer

reached

. Her mother wept. Lil

r and the world shattered into win

her, something

hat whisper