e

efoot, his cloak clutched ar

d at me like that. I only know I cannot stay. I am a slave, a

ards. The way he *saw* me. I shake my head. I cannot think about his dark hair, his blue eyes, his gent

osts. The slave quarters are dark and empty, the others still working, except for Julia. Sh

eded

the cloak. "That

s not

She smiles, knowing.

ry, and I do not

she is bursting with n

ree

ful," I say, fl

et. The bond lit up like fire." Her smile wavers. "I kept it secret to keep him safe. The night you were rej

ng I have held together for five days cracks. Derek's reje

Are yo

as crying. "I am fine

hurting. You are thinking about Derek. You are n

per. "It does no

, tired of hiding, tired of being a slave. And for the first time in a

us. "Did you meet him? The

ea cooling beside a shattered

uietly. "I transformed. For t

. "Did an

Only a

k and see Gwen. Fin

tove, arms crossed,

m sorry, I don't kn

the Lycan. You are lucky. He was with Derek the whole time and never noticed, a

erst

s, for fear, and finds none. "Rest. You se

ived.

hidden by trees and shadows where the nobles rarely go. The moon is bright, the water still, the stars scattered acro

nd the dress beneath it and fold them on the bank beside the spare. Then I close my eye

s over, and I stand on four white paws, radiant in the water'

old shocks me awake, rising to

tst

the dark. My white fur glows in the mo

saw my wolf, who looked at me like I mattered. He stops at the water's edge and kneels, and

the way from the keep. It was not hard to track." His voi

ut I have trusted before

he bank, then turns his back.

ss, pin my hair back, and walk to him with his cloak held out. "This is yours. It was

oes not put it on

cept gifts f

nk I am

is face, everything about him screa

gs. But I am not your enemy." His blue eye

runs cold

e mark. You are not a slav

breathe.

is shoulders. "Your secret is safe with me." He walks away,

ears into

he did not hurt me, did not tell anyone, did not use it against me. He jus

But I know I will not forget

ow if I can

hat is the most terr