el

inking, dreaming. Of a different life, one whe

oticed. Where the forest didn't feel l

aight to the small chest at the foot of my bed. The window I'd left crac

sence from the room while I was gone. I trailed my fingers

ed "appropriate." War tactics. Weaponry. Field medicine. Nothing with magi

monitor my tho

on the stone floor. His expression wasn't anger anymore-it was worse.

beyed me,

kn

fortress-stone walls, reinforced windows, and a study filled with weapons instead of books. A dozen

ed for me

ated, th

ws. Even this late, hunters were shouting and firing rounds. I

imself a glass of something dar

rt," he said. "That's not a fl

orest doesn't mean

d just because the sun filters through the trees. But

le li

yes sharpened. "You forget

her eyes crinkling with laughter. I couldn't remember her voice, only the stories. How the wolves tor

y memory but a per

doubling your training. Your pat

ked "P

ready in the field. If you want to earn your

didn't want to aim a crossbow at something that

," he said. "A pack's near our

urned. "Did

acks were fresh.

dn't feel lucky, I fel

y don't just kill us. They toy with us. Break us. Wolves are cunning. They wear

crept dow

forest again. Not without me.

s, s

riefly. "I only wan

t safety under my fathers r

ed on-to strategy, reports, gear manifests. The attack on my fr

t the window, watching the forest sway

mething in m

t the neat little cage of

came t

so did training. I dressed quickly- thick boots, cotton tunic, the standard hunter

erday's training had settled, but I

through quietly, ignoring the nods and glances of the other hunte

ction. Just another day. Unfortunately

he kitchen, coffee in

up. "Eat somet

a protein bar.

a.m.

moke. The yard echoed with shouted comma

ant Merren. She tossed me a

I was average at best, too slow, too hesitant. She shouted corrections unt

hose look

ice, perimeter tracking.. But I was the only girl without

dn't need one. S

r didn't

ns. Filed reports. My knuckle

idn't c

was m

t it meant t

ore, and exhausted. But the

ng I didn't

n thi

this

ill called with the pr

t didn't feel

that loo