a's

my legs were trembling, I managed to stay upright. I was forced to. I could hardly hear the people around me because

behind his back, his eyes vacant, his jaw clenched. I looked for a single indication o

n't bother to hide pressed against her lips. She touched Dane's arm as if she was alrea

, Dane made his word

daughter of no rank, broken in my

he wolves averted their gazes. People looked at me as if I wer

steady. He didn't appea

" "This pack no longer includes her.

arp breath from leaving my lungs. I had the impression that someone had ripped my breath away. It was

s his firm, cold fingers touched my skin. Silently, the pack observed his h

rk-our bond. I was

m deep within. I wouldn't allow them to enjoy

as a reminder that weakness is not the foundati

obvious even though she didn't touch him this

m. Their faces became indistinct. A few turned the

stood up

refrained

the guards arri

voice. They will escort you out of the

They were not required

urning, but my

e glass with

I'll

dea where,

er, I

sound I heard before they

by. Weeks

of thought. Long before the divorce, I had been slowly and silently poison

dream, I was sup

omething ke

, in unfamiliar hands, somewhe

moss in a dark cave as my eye

ed, but the fire in

y complied with my

her side of the cave. covered in furs.

and low as he said, "You w

ad a dry throat

ed. "What? Now, that

him. I spoke

at a

His face appeared. older than Dane.

ked. "But now, you're changi

e you save

answered. "The

I examine

skin, my vein

rst time since

ienced s

ual

ok before I could

ffened and f

I he

h

ha

no

an

was

ying to fi

, the cave

The elderly man remained motionles

"He shouldn't

elbows. My heart was beating more qu

quired. I pushed the words out

"Because something is taking place in the Bl

ent

?" I gripped the

re becoming ill. Crops are dying. Breaking magic. Addi

elieve it has something to

nowing look rather t

a price. particularly one connected to t

igorously. "

completely and

orest is your ancestor. A long-gone gift idea. That's why you

tightened w

doesn't even know who you

came another howl

him just yet. The poison is still ing

ghter and said, "I don't wa

anymore. The person he left behind is no longer you. In contrast,

ed sharply al

d my ribs

t my fingertips in bri

lowly as he watched. "It

s it?" I

owl split the air be

n't have

lume wa

ugh

il

man's express

," he muttered. "Tha

ugh the forest as Mira's new powers start to awa