Chapter 2

The outer lodge was far enough from the main house that I had to leave before sunrise just to prepare Liora’s breakfast on time.

I had barely crossed the yard when Kael’s men seized me from behind, bound my wrists, and forced me onto a transport cart.

By the time the blindfold came off, I was already standing in the target yard.

Snow still clung to the posts.

Kael stood above me and pointed toward the far end.

“Go stand there.”

“Liora wants to practice.”

I followed his gaze to the bow in her hands, and my whole body went cold.

“She’s never used a war bow.”

“If she misses, I’ll die.”

Liora’s face crumpled at once.

“Kael, Mira’s right. I’m too clumsy. I shouldn’t have asked.”

That was enough.

Kael drew her into his arms and corrected her grip himself.

“You’ll do fine.”

Then he looked at me.

“She only wanted to learn because she heard you mocking her for being too soft to survive in this pack.”

“If she loses confidence now, that is on you.”

So that was today’s reason.

Not random cruelty.

A lie, and then a punishment built neatly around it.

I looked at him without blinking.

He had already decided what was true.

Still, I tried once.

“Kael, I never said that.”

Liora lowered her eyes and bit her lip.

“It’s all right. If Mira hates me, I’ll accept it. I shouldn’t have asked at all.”

Kael’s jaw tightened.

“Enough.”

Then he bent closer to me.

“If you refuse, I’ll bring Nia here in your place.”

That was enough.

I closed my eyes once, then forced my mouth to curve.

“She’s still burning with fever.”

“I’ll do it.”

Kael stepped back, satisfied.

What he did not know was that my wolf had begun failing only months ago, after Frost Ridge, when I dragged him out of a silver snare and let the venom sink too deep into me before the healers arrived.

Everyone still believed I healed the way I used to.

That I could take a wound and rise again.

Liora loosed the first arrow.

It punched through my knee.

I hit the ground so hard my teeth clicked.

She gasped and looked at Kael.

He hesitated for half a breath, then said, “Mira’s wolf used to heal faster than anyone in the pack.”

“She’ll live.”

“Again.”

The second arrow tore through my shoulder.

The third buried itself in my side.

By the fourth, my dress was soaked red.

The world swam.

I could barely hear anything over the pounding in my ears, but I still caught it: that soft, thrilled laugh Liora let out when she thought no one was listening.

At last Kael lifted a hand.

“Enough.”

But Liora only pouted.

“I was just beginning to enjoy it.”

Then she turned toward the gate.

“Maybe her sister should stand in for the last round. She’s smaller. It might even be easier.”

“No.”

The scream tore out of me before I could stop it.

“Nia is ten.”

“She’s sick.”

Kael looked at me strangely.

It was the first time in months I had raised my voice at him.

Something flickered across his face.

Then it was gone.

I remember clawing at the frozen ground.

I remember blood in my mouth.

And I remember Nia’s voice, shrill with terror, somewhere beyond me.

“Didi! Didi, save me!”

Then the dark swallowed everything.

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