Callah

rest vanished behind me, cutting me off from everything familiar, every place I felt safe. The air here

only thing keeping me steady. The silence was not empty; it was loaded with unspoken stuff. He looked a

with black iron gates, stone towers, and sharp edges, built to keep people out...or kee

k. Wolves stood like guards on the steps, watching me wi

jected

ack. Close enough to tell me what to d

she was the type of lady who got her point

aid flatly, like I was a

elp," Kael said,

ing her disgust. "We will

way. "I'm not trying to impress a

t her up

will be in the East Wing, your ow

nterrupted. "W

me everything. He still did

Elias," he

side than outside. Moonlight bled across the stone.

ing, with too much pain and unanswered prayers. He was small and pale, his skin almo

ome tonics, all wrong. They were tryi

out," I sa

oked up, unsu

aid

at Kael,

e boy. His pulse raced lightly. The curse w

int marks on my skin, the ones I wanted to

I whispered. "I'

lade. My blood welled up, hot.

it wa

had visions of rituals, moonlight, Kael's face twisted into something dark,

sped, then

thing ev

e floor, my

rushe

u do?" His v

om my mouth. "But this curse...it's not

stiff. "

ly want t

look awa

ant to kill; it was meant to something.

ng a different language. "You're

it was not a

ned. "Then you wi

ime, don't send your

oze.

room. She warned

ened. "I neve

"She was already th

guard. "Get five warrio

d, like the walls were holding

bag ripped apart, vials broken. But

what to ta

harred page. His fingers tig

ou?" I interrupted.

s time. "Someone's t

d. "Someone's tr

rist, to the glowing

re you,

eye. "Something yo

have to t

Now you have to

e window, the forest covered in fog. My body

ther told me any

lace feel like

g asleep, had the boy

ven

, ready to write it

moved b

e the

?" I

ans

the floorboa

e be

ees and put my ear

. Two. Pa

mach d

ere, hidden under layers

rap

reath and

elling like stone,

disappeared

k once, then

tep cr

the bottom, the door

ck