ana

ps out of the hall befo

from

ing mysel

nding under a spotlight. Behind me, the doors shut with a heavy thud, sealing in th

ards f

tance, like that makes

g me," I say w

ers, calm and re

cou

ld in my wrist pulses again-sharp, wron

corner towa

more guards a

the corridor ent

omach

p. "M

en pretend to consider it. "You'

ond, I ca

gs. The little pieces of life I built while ev

to stay steady.

for half a heartbeat. Then he hardens aga

qu

'm a s

t grow up in

eyes-half-open doors, people pretending they aren't listening. If

ce, slow an

e,"

ay before my f

ith nowh

how quickly a pack can make you ho

cker in the wind. Wolves move in small clusters, w

eat lowers her gaze l

ke he wanted to block me but remembered

hin up and

ural cold. I rub it through my

th

ep-but it feels like she

ining ring and brea

in

ant me alone with my own things. With my own c

hifts acro

nd a pillar, moving fas

ian

someone who still means

step to

fore I can speak, fin

lin

t hurts-becau

ed. "What did

whisper. "Riggs

aps, like she already knows. "I tried to g

icial. I'm not a person

lenches. "Thi

like a stone

elders' wing, toward the place where Riggs

y, voice rough. "Why would

htens. "Because

er. "You don

ny. Not all of it. But enough to know they were forcing something. And Rig

est a

d me. Easier if he'd rejected me

gu

e

t fit the w

d was a

old, sharp-like the bond

y glance. "It's

the confession tastes like weakness.

e hall doors. "Then we don't

he

r eyes." She pauses. "And Eliana-d

r. "I'm not allowed t

pace steady, normal. Not runni

s the courtya

iliar

smoke a

rt stuttering, skin tightening, wolf p

gg

dressed in black, expression controlled. Two e

sweeps the

nd

of a second,

Imani's han

rd snaps into pl

ks tow

o notice and go quiet, like the ter

ders square.

eet away. Not close

close

a," he

still does something

y chin.

ghtens at

wrist again-quick,

itory tonight,"

ens. "You c

ok at her. "This

drops. "Lea

tays calm, but I hear strain underneath it now

he says. "Ju

d before I can stop

yes f

eat, I see i

or hi

r

ask slams

't," h

me in public, strip me of everythi

he wants to grab me and shake sense into me-

ough that only I can he

til

breath

like he's afraid

urns and

like

rist pulses hard

ething that makes

ome out here t

n me-without letting th