Savage alerted before daylight at the sound of a woman’s step entering his tent. Strange. This is usually when Murah is leaving not arriving. He was still. Waiting. The form lay behind him. Sliding closer. A slim hand wrapped around his side to flatten against his stomach. Not her touch. He instantly rolled to his opposite side. Catching the spike aimed for his lower back. Wrenching it from her fist as he moved. She tried to hold it. Following his momentum to land nearly atop him. He reflexively sunk the spike into her forehead. Slowing enough to stop it after piercing the skin. Before it split bone. He dragged it down between her brows and lightened the pressure as he tugged it down the side of her nose and to her jaw. Disloyal Wench. He caught the light of her blonde curls in the blackness. Though he’d already suspected it was she. She squealed in pain. I left Phalanx in Winter’s Haven. He

Chavias looked up the road where Savage leaned against the bakery wall, near the storehouse. Tapping his forehead. “How’d you know I’d be here tonight?” “I didn’t. Stumbled across your tracks.” “Hmm.” How’d you know it was me? Chavias was somewhat doubtful. “Recognized the Targue following your boots.” “Ah.” Chavias nodded. Logical. “Can I ask you a question?” That’d be unusual for you. Chavias noted. “Best be quick. They’re not far behind.” “Oh, I left a woman for them to chase.” Savage dismissed. “You’re feeding them a live woman?” Chavias was horrified. Feeling a tinge of disappointment that the glimpses of humanity he’d seen in the younger man had been an illusion. “No.” Savage straightened. To sway a boot through the dirt. “I smeared her with their droppings and told her to hide once she got deep in the trees. They won’t find her.” As if on cue ther

Peak Mountain, Black Mountains, Battling Border CHAVIAS Since Chavias had heard Radix leaving in Danbury’s coach he had been fingering the iron key tucked under his cot and wrapped in Calisto’s cloak. Perhaps I am wrong. Perhaps she doesn’t deserve to die, as I’d thought. Have I gotten so dark that I seek vengeance where it’s not needed? But then he remembered overhearing Radix telling Deiti, the redheaded temptress who tormented him, to stay close to the caves because soon he’d be sending her after a Winter Dread. Sabine. The precious creature Chavias was protecting. Breathtaking Sabine who dances in snowflakes and invites danger into her bed. A wondrously gorgeous creature who seemed innocent of all evil in the world. Deiti wanted to hunt her down and steal her powers until the innocent girl was seared from the inside out.

How did I ever think she was lovely? Chavias pondered as he stared at the lustful whore. Radix’s most favored pet. She’d sent him away into some idiotic delusion simply by baring her flesh. But Sabine’s mere presence in this world, had drawn him back. Back to the things I believed in. Back to pieces of me. He thought sadly. Closer to who I was once. Sabine doesn’t deserve to be contaminated by any of our darkness. Chavias fisted the cold iron key. Feeling the grooves of it biting into his palm. He strode to his cell and stuck an arm through and wrapped it around toward the lock. Inserting the key, he gave it a grating turn and aimed straight for Radix’s chamber. He felt a swell of victory at taking her from Radix. The way he’s taken countless things from me. He quietly lifted one of the hooks off the wall just inside the entry to the narrow room. He was almost to Deiti before she se

“Your shoulder.” An assassin pointed as Savage’s skin seamed together over the wound. Overlapping the blood inside and then sealing over it. “How-Savage-You just-” “How did you do that?” Wildling was unsettled. “That is devil magic!” “Dread magic!” Another assassin whispered in a hushed voice. “That’s how he does it.” Someone else said conspiratorially. There were awestruck gasps and everyone was staring. Savage didn’t glance at it. Didn’t blink. “I can do a lot more.” He confided. Cracking his neck ominously. Wildling glared at him a moment, face jerking, before striding from Winter’s Haven on thudding boots. “You’re just going to let him go?” Dimurah cried. Lunging against Phalanx’s strong arms as she shouted at Savage. Her voice cracking in betrayal. Savage skid a blue-eyed gaze at her over his shoulder. There’ll be no consoling her. He knew. Patience woman.