HIS MALE SLAVE IS A WOMAN

e's poin

ys kept fresh ones in the hallway, their soft petals pressed against the windo

they smelled

the cell

were shaking,she never shook. Not even when father returned home bloodied from his patrol

ed beside me, clutching my cloak. I could feel the air go still, then the walls began t

rniture overturned.

nf

and I pressed my hand to her mouth, whispering, "

was t

scent of ash and fur and blood seeped into the

eard her

, trying to lift the hatch. I held her

father's yell followed, raw and

. boots. O

ood c

fr

t open, and the light blinded m

ard, but the butt of a rifle slammed i

he was gone. A

ndered the outskirts of the Borderlands, hiding beneath di

ve

in that cellar. And I

-

n gates. The sky was gray with the promise of snow, and the scent of

an was transporting a fresh batch of tributes,humans offered to the Lycan court in exchange f

r then-N

Even from this distance, I could see the fear in her shoulders. The guards ba

inside m

ave a plan

oak billowing, hood pulled low.

them barked, ra

" I said, raising my ha

looks, then bur

What the hell do you th

ouder this time. "Let the gi

it in their eyes-the curiosity,

, voice low. "She won't su

ted, narrowing his gaze.

My long hair spilled o

rinned. "Sh

"You want to take her place?" he asked. "Y

aid. "I'm cou

gged. "Fine. But you

ch. In one swift motion, he grabbed a fistful of my hair and ha

f the boys no

ndages, bruising my ribs. Gave me trouser

e one the

cho

e. But if it got Nicolina o

ar the fire, arms around her knees

hed. "No, no-what a

e her. "Listen to me. I told them

panic. "No. No, you ca

When the guards change, slip away. Run south. Find th

streaking her cheeks. "Don

I said softly. "It's always bee

'll lo

omise me one thing," I whispere

orning, sh

ere, cloaked in co

crueler with every mile. Trees thinned. Snow ki

ycan

of obsidian stone, guarded by wolves in human skin. Their

forward, sniffed t

is gaze dir

lared. Bro

g my chin up. My heartbe

pped c

cl

iffed again,slow

es nar

there. Not recogniti

pic

rd barked behind him, impatie

didn'

ill stari

truth beneath the bloo

he

hind him cr

... he di

I could feel his breath agai

ell...