EL

e her. It was like the magic in its walls had been holding back, waiting for her to come b

g the hallway arch, like she was remembering something that had not happened yet. Th

els wrong, sh

noises had gotten worse. Shadows were not staying put. Some wolve

he child?

bag bounced against her hip, and even though she did not say anything, her presence was loud. My warriors

id. "Doing okay. Barel

ck," Raven muttere

thing we did not want to admit. So

t away: too sweet herbs, copper, mildew. Raven tensed up. She knew it

those herbs

plied without

, Alia, was still. Her skin was pale, her lips cracked.

e reached into her bag and took out cloth pouches, roots I didn't know, and

, she

mo

elt thick. She was grinding herbs in her hand, muttering in a language

age is tha

ok at me. It's

er fingers in it and brushed it across the girl's forehead, che

and slow. Her body was s

k, out of breath,

ered. But this house won

. What do

ed up at the ceiling. Something's burie

re you talking abo

king about under you. Under you

r stuff, and walked past

ENE

listening. Kael had brought her back. The one he pus

not. She was a threat, not just to the pack, but to Kael himself. I had s

should never

t wing. I had my own things to

EN

gave me was too quiet. The silence felt li

guard. Not strong enough to stop what was in this house, but maybe enough to slo

n I heard

Not at the door

at

tened

le

knock. Loud

went to the wall and put my ear to the wooden

"She bleeds the

fr

o whisper it when she tucked me in. Her voice f

ed before I could ask

y heart was pounding. Whatever was

s a m

as b

EL

watching the moon over the pines. The wolves hadn't howled

rail. It was cold

words, just her presence. Her magic had already marked

e fireplace had gone o

EN

eople were still asleep. I walked down the halls, remembe

as locked.

the right had al

til I found the loose stone,

and cracked, tied with red t

t with sha

was a name I had not seen s

hat followed made

e blood, she w

sound b

a kn

rea

but no one

er floating

lready