after they find the body. I

next to the Alpha's chambers. But Kael tells me to bring his correspondence in person that morni

rrespondence pressed to my c

t makes you forget they were ever young. Kael sits at the center on a chair that is not quite a throne but

om feel colder just looking at them. She moves like she has ne

as dead leaves. "The Blackthorn line thanks you for your con

I only wished to offer my condolences for the low-rank

s jaw tightens. "A

hing in them sharpens. Pleased, almost.

. strangely." She lets the word sit there, ugly and deliberate. "I only mention

goes ve

erstand, Lady Seraphine. The matter of Elara Veyne was settled

ortunate, then, that you have no concerns about the new body. The one found near the Moonless Fo

d turns

itchen. Low-rank wolf. Drained of blood. Left near the forest's edge. I did

ing else. To something that happened fiv

ce is flat. Controlled. But I see his hands g

, is it not? First, a healer accused of poisoning the heir. Now, another low-rank wolf was found dead with no clear cause.

t stops

she has been waiting for me. Like I am the answ

is light. Curious. "I do not recogniz

ession shifts. Just slightly. A

ant," he says. "She is not

She is standing right there, after all. Liste

She means Elar

l. I press the correspondence harder again

y voice comes out soft. Rue's voice. Quiet. Afraid.

ard me. Another. Her green eyes never leave my face. "Ho

roat

say. "I have never left Nightval

an smell her perfume. Something floral. Something col

and. I do not wa

smaller. Hotter. "Lady Seraphine. You are

. curious. About the new face in your household. About the way she watches. About t

says. "She is a servant. Sh

him. Her smile is gone now. In its

ndolences. And to remind you-" she lets the words hang in the air "-t

om is

. His silver eyes

should leav

urtsies. Perfectly. Formall

. Just slightly. Just enough for me to feel

ar: "I know who you are, little gh

doors close behind h

annot b

-

. They file out. Elder Marrok pauses at the door.

l. "That woman always has been.

ael says. "The m

as not wrong about one thing. Ghosts

e door closes

ue

nds are shaking too hard. M

this time. He walks toward me

My voice cracks. "She knows

oes she

cannot tell him. I

e. He tilts my chin up so I have to look at him. His silver

harp. I see him hear it. "I have

are l

am

s across my cheek. Wipes away a tear I did not know was th

ree

known me for longer than three weeks.

ice is barely a whisper.

He steps back. H

runs a hand through his hair. Frustrated. Confused. "I feel like I k

t to say the words so bad

se I came back from the dead to hate you, and ins

y neck. One year and one day. I

name like it is a prayer.

Away from the pull I cannot fight. "You wil

eant

di

k to the door. I d

at the threshold. "Stay cl

"What are yo

is quiet. R

someon

-

. I do not see the servants. I do not see anything except the cold green

you are, li

ehow, impossib

s not the

he door to my

. Her violet eyes are wid

says. "We n

he door.

is w

me. Her hand reaches out. Tou

hand jerks back like

swallows. Her face is white as bone. "I saw water. I saw you drowning.

not b

yr

Her hands are pressed against h

wrong. I should protect myself the way

I have to a friend. And she j

t thing I have spoken since I woke up in Ru

. Her violet eyes

ever you are hiding. Whatever you

?" I

t is small, s

first time," she says. "And I t

nd in the middle

knows. Riven suspects.

l everyone kn

happen to me