THE NIGHT MY MATE BURNED ME ALIVE
By the time midnight approached, I was standing beside my bedroom window dressed in dark clothing, staring toward the distant lights of the capital.
The sensible choice was obvious.
Ignore the invitation.
Stay home.
Avoid Kael entirely.
Unfortunately, Kael Blackwood was not a man who reacted well to being ignored.
If I refused to meet him, he would simply come looking for answers himself. Given his position and stubborn nature, that possibility worried me far more than the invitation.
With a quiet sigh, I climbed out the window.
Cool night air brushed against my face. The scent of damp earth drifted from the gardens below. Above me, a crescent moon hung low in the sky, casting silver light a