We didn't return to the stronghold. Niklas carried me through the forest, away from Milos's lair, the Council, and everything else. His arms were strong around me, his heartbeat a steady rhythm against my ear. The night air was cold, but he was warm."Where are we going?" I whispered."Somewhere safe.""You said that before. Last time, you took me to a cave.""This is a different cave."I laughed, a weak, tired sound. "How many caves do you have?""Enough."The cave was smaller than the last one, just a hollow in the cliffside, barely big enough for the two of us. But it was dry, hidden, and when Niklas set me down on a bed of dried leaves, I felt something I hadn't felt in days: safe.He gathered wood from the forest floor and built a fire. The flames caught quickly, casting warm shadows across the stone walls. Outside, the wind howled. Inside, there was only us."Your wrists," he said, kneeling beside me. "Let me see."I held out my arms. The silver chains had left deep burns—red, r
Zuletzt aktualisiert : 2026-04-30 Mehr lesen