r of the room when the do

ess, smiling like she had never

Warm eyes. "I heard you were sti

urned. I did

hind her. He loo

," he said. "I told her yes. Family sho

him. "You

like we were children again. She took my hand.

sent you here I thought you would die. I could not sleep. I came to mak

nded perfect.

th something like r

he said. "No one will disturb you. Rest. Talk.

The doo

il his footsteps faded. T

and looked

t u

d on th

"I said get up, Ember. Or do you want me to

My legs f

ou. Still breathing. Still taking space. I

acked. "You alread

ot kill you. Because the pack is already whispering that the curs

The sound was sharp. My head t

ar. You will tell him we are close. If you open your mouth about anything else I will make sure he believes you are c

nside my mouth.

wanted to ma

y. He is so guilty he will believe

nees. Clean this room with your hand

not

down. "Crawl or I scream for hel

wood was rough. I moved forward

said. "You wer

er she ordered me to start again. I did. My arms shook.

n the light outside change

e food. Walk behind me. Head down. I

Moon wolves stared. Some whispered. Ce

re her plate while she talked lo

uch at home. I came to care f

anced at me with pity. Celine sa

Do not mind

to the room she

dropped the leftover bones on th

t pick t

ard. Bones ground against th

at

it in my mouth. The taste was cold and dry.

sleep on the floor besi

the mattress," she s

me hurt. The old cuts. The new bruises. The place in

he would not hear. "I want to

ne woke me with a

ll check on u

rough hands and pinched my che

opened the door with

im. "She is starting to forgive m

d at me. "I

o my arm behind the door

he words o

l be at the border for two days.

lef

oor closed Celin

" she said

ys breaking me in ways

e whole wing on my hands and knees

ner for hours with my arms r

uel word from Silverf

reason the pa

ap

ave died unde

ap

ly kept you becaus

l

ried she

it out. No on

ife from the kitchen and held it to

"One cut. Damon would think you did it yo

ve. The blad

in line of blood ran down my

want you to feel every day that you are

e away and ordered

on the bed. Celine held my hand. My face was clea

," Celine said. "We

ked at me

ils dug int

fine,"

he wedding. "I am glad. Stay as long

ft ag

o me the moment

trying to fix his guilt that he cann

pulled me up

happy I am here. You will thank him for letting me stay. I

Every sentence was a lie. Celine read i

el while she listed every

you tried to seduce th

them you a

o one ever believe

s I will lock you outside myself

ars ran down my face and

front of me and

It looks go

di

e. The place that had prayed for death since

ice broke. Then she stood

orrow we st

body ached in too many places

ght we wer

t a loving sist

knew th

not come

ake sure I never

left who would beli