LOGINMy ears burned, but neither of us said anything more. Climbing out of the tub, I immediately regretted leaving its warmth. The cool air on my damp skin raised goose bumps along my arms. I dried myself quickly, acutely aware of Carlin waiting just outside the door.
Clean clothes were folded on the bench. Although the trousers fit well enough once I tightened the drawstring, the shirt was several sizes too large. In f
The camp's dining hall, occupying most of the squat stone building, featured two long tables stretching across the room beneath wooden rafters darkened by years of smoke. Bowls, cups, and mismatched spoons covered nearly every available surface, and the air carried the scent of roasted onions, fresh bread, and a thick stew bubbling in an iron pot near the hearth.My stomach twisted hard enough to remind me that I’d eaten almost nothing since morning.Ev had claimed a place near the fire. Zeph sat across from her, his back to the wall and his attention divided between the room’s two exits. Zin occupied the bench beside him, though the space between them suggested Zeph had been steadily moving away from her.When Zin saw us, her eyes first scanned my borrowed shirt before shifting to Carlin, her smile wide
My ears burned, but neither of us said anything more. Climbing out of the tub, I immediately regretted leaving its warmth. The cool air on my damp skin raised goose bumps along my arms. I dried myself quickly, acutely aware of Carlin waiting just outside the door.Clean clothes were folded on the bench. Although the trousers fit well enough once I tightened the drawstring, the shirt was several sizes too large. In fact, the hem fell well below my hips, and the sleeves swallowed my hands completely. I rolled each sleeve three times. They still covered my knuckles.“Are you dressing or escaping through a hidden tunnel?” Carlin called.“I’m considering both.”“I checked. There isn’t a window.” Carlin chuckled
The shadow beneath the door shifted, and for one wild second, I thought Carlin might actually reach for the handle. My heart slammed against my ribs so hard it sent ripples through the bathwater. What had started as a joke—mostly—had taken a serious turn. The ensuing silence stretched, making me painfully aware of the water dripping from my raised hand and the heat creeping into my face.Finally, Carlin cleared his throat. “That sounds like a dangerous invitation.”“It’s only dangerous if you intend to accept.”I meant the words to sound teasing and confident. They came out a little breathless instead.“Did you want me to?” Carlin tried to sound confident, but it fell flat.My fi
The washing room was barely large enough to hold the wooden tub tucked into one corner. A narrow bench rested against the opposite wall beneath a row of iron hooks, and bundles of dried lavender hung from the ceiling beams. The sweet, calming scent mixed with warm soap and damp stone.It was the most beautiful room I had ever seen.After days of cold rivers, dirt, blood, and sleeping on the ground, the steam curling above the water in delicate ribbons and brushing against my face felt like a miracle, and I could have wept.“I’m never leaving,” I whispered.Ev rested one shoulder against the doorframe. “I’ll tell Carlin you’ve chosen the tub over him.”“I haven’t chosen Carlin at all.” I blurted out too fast. Heat creeping up my face.“Of course not.” The ease of her agreement made me narrow my eyes. She gave me an innocent smile that fooled absolutely no one. “Enjoy your bath.
The Seeker camp appeared between the trees late that afternoon.At first, I saw only the pointed roofs of the watchtowers rising above the pines. Then the road curved, revealing a wall of sharpened logs enclosing the camp. Smoke curled from the chimney of a squat stone building, carrying the welcome scents of burning oak and something savory cooking inside. Voices drifted over the wall. Steel rang against steel in the training yard, followed by a burst of laughter and someone shouting about an unfair blow.After the silence and blood of the last camp, those ordinary sounds loosened the knot that had been sitting beneath my ribs. This camp is safe, at least for now.Bella must have felt it too. Her pace quickened, and her tail began to sway behind her.Through the o
Morning arrived far too soon. Pale light crept through the branches, transforming the mist between the trees into a dull silver. As the fire had burned down to a bed of glowing embers, the clearing grew cold, causing every breath to form a faint cloud in front of my face. Consequently, I burrowed deeper beneath my cloak..Sleep had come in short, miserable pieces, with lightning flashing across pale skin and bones cracking somewhere in the darkness each time I drifted off. Now my eyes felt packed with sand, and a dull ache pulsed behind them.“Rise and shine, everyone!”Ev’s voice cut through the quiet with entirely too much cheer.I dragged my cloak over my head. “No.”Leaves crunched as she approached my bedroll.“An inspiring response.” She teased as she tried pulling my cloak.“Go away,” I groaned, curling onto my side.“We need to reach the checkpoint before nightfall.”&nbs
That was a clear threat. My stomach knotted so tightly I thought I might be sick. The murderous glint in Remier’s eyes almost pinned me in place. Move. I had to move. By the grace of the goddess, my legs obeyed, carrying me down the corridor toward my father’s study.Knock. Knock. Knock“Come in.”
After that tense moment, my father dismissed me with a flick of his hand, ordering me back to my chambers as though I were a disobedient child. Humiliation burned through me hotter than the hearthfires, my fists clenching at my sides as I stormed away, my footsteps snapping against the cold stone f
My parents sat at the head of the hall, commanding every gaze. Father’s broad shoulders filled his high-backed chair, Mother’s poise as sharp as any blade. Both wore deep green trimmed with brown. The colors of House Verden, echoing the forests that bound our lands. Father’s gaze pinned me the mome
The tea room glowed with firelight and polite chatter, silver spoons clinking gently against porcelain cups. Yet despite the warmth, my father’s cold anger clung to me like frost, coiling tighter the longer I lingered at his side. Something gnawed at him beneath that regal composure, and I







