s that swallowed sound and made the world feel older than it was. My fingers were numb by the time I

t only by thin moonlight. Up here, the air tasted different. Sharpe

t was

d... b

int outline of foothills beyond that, the distant shimmer of the river

t s

to t

e to

ight of Draven's shadow pressin

ry step. My nightshirt-once soft, now torn and stiff with mud-

across,

s-long, deep scratches that dragged in parallel lines ac

w m

fresh. The edges were dulled, softened by time. Wolves hunted in these

dn't

asier to fac

each other like ancient guardians. A narrow gap at their base form

e air was cold but still. Protected. The stone felt like it presse

ugging my knee

did the sh

into the chattering of my teeth. Whet

be

the first wa

a river in fre

untain until my le

settled like i

only the

n the Moon Tyrant wanted something, he would raze villa

seen

ed

ecause

slipped out of me-or may

into the hollow darknes

pris

sacr

woman awaiting

iv

night di

dn't

n't co

t, like a spark warming the edge of a dying fire

y hand agai

rmured. "Please...

aven would feel it. I didn't know how-but I remembered that moment years from

it was a

asn't s

hat seeped through the boulder gap. When sleep finally dragged me

e waking in my childhood be