nowhere to run to anyway. Something in me, maybe just tired instinct, tells

s his horse up hard just a few feet from me. He's a broad gu

lowly, palms open

the mud, the borrowed cloak, the boots two siz

oice steady even though my heart's pounding hard enough tha

s breath. "Sure you do. Everybody

" I say, sharpe

ard, and walks a slow circle around me, like he's deciding if I'

ene

uite recognition. More like he's turning the name o

know that name offhand.

n gave me without even meaning to. "I was attacked ne

" the young

with more heat than I want, more me than S

der. A quiet woman who hasn't said a word since they showed up, still on

think, Wren?"

I also think she's not carrying a weapon, and she's not strong enough right now to fight off three

e there's no point

" Wren says. "Let the Alpha

ds once. "Fine. But she rides bound, I'm not taking ch

ough rope. Not cruel about it, just quic

saddle with both hands and try not to think too hard about what it m

n says, riding close beside us. "T

an't quite keep the bit

"You say that like you alre

," I say quickly, covering the sli

a few more times as we ride, like she's keepin

nges the fur

Stone fences cutting up the pasture. Smok

looks nothing like I remember. Both

en up all the way

ridge

something that won't be softened. Smoke curling out of a dozen chimneys, guards walking the outer wall, sharp

te that this place still feels like hom

g rider asks, mistaking what's o

like that,"

er gate and I feel eyes

watching the bound stranger get hauled in like cargo.

is

they fi

h the name hit different faces in different ways. Confusion on

lly catching up to me, but I force myself to stand straight, chin level, be

eathing. On keeping my face still, reminding myself, over and over, that no matter wha

even reach them, and a man steps

nd amber eyes that land on me

atches so h

ss

remember. Colder. Like something in h

something he can't quite make sense of. Somethi

is head. "Found her near the eastern bo

looking at me, and something crosses

anger, it somethi

s voice comes out low and da

nt to know exactly who thought it