peace. It was a luxury wolve

ver Hollow unnerved her

rees that curved over the territory like watchful sentinels

illed with roars and blood. No wild laughter around fir

quiet and efficient, as if their thoughts weighed more th

thing Ashen

.. that wa

-

ers had b

st a new attendant with a fo

irl said. "More comfo

ke old pine and sage. A heavy wooden door,

as n

ni

ring into the fire, trying not to think about

place looks calm. But

wanted from her. Maybe

right about

as not what it

-

ays p

with the o

the b

layout of

d when Lucien passed, and whi

earne

ucture beneath

that didn't speak

t need to. Wolves moved aside for him in the hallways. Elders nodd

rarely spo

ief glances and

s gaze sometimes ling

she didn't

-

he kno

Near midnight

her feet

ther side of the

ned it

one was

ce of dark grey c

tched into

wolf s

pack

le sil

at it for a

the door and l

-

ing, everythi

yards were quiet. Too quiet. Like someone had

ir voices hushed. Even t

ers as she passed

on

vani

scout, sa

th e

her pace, but the words curl

earing

igns of a figh

anted to say

what fear s

place ree

-

ernoon, she sa

rlooked the northern woods, pretending not to be list

them spok

"Did you slee

at him. "N

ear anythi

ik

d. "A howl.

still.

tightened. "N

th e

nod

d in sile

ing at my door," she

t wa

n eye. No na

ward her fully.

once. "It

ched her face

"This place is built o

rting to

ween them, carrying the

n, voice softer this time. "Not just

rder than i

ooked

was when

econd-a flicker of sil

r. Not

y

chi

hen..

-

Rhea dream

ed stone. Wolves howling. Blood spilling over a

ke, her roo

e had g

slid a second no

e. No

rds, written

re not