e
efoot, his cloak clutched ar
d at me like that. I only know I cannot stay. I am a slave, a
ards. The way he *saw* me. I shake my head. I cannot think about his dark hair, his blue eyes, his gent
osts. The slave quarters are dark and empty, the others still working, except for Julia. Sh
eded
the cloak. "That
s not
She smiles, knowing.
ry, and I do not
she is bursting with n
ree
ful," I say, fl
et. The bond lit up like fire." Her smile wavers. "I kept it secret to keep him safe. The night you were rej
ng I have held together for five days cracks. Derek's reje
Are yo
as crying. "I am fine
hurting. You are thinking about Derek. You are n
per. "It does no
, tired of hiding, tired of being a slave. And for the first time in a
us. "Did you meet him? The
ea cooling beside a shattered
uietly. "I transformed. For t
. "Did an
Only a
k and see Gwen. Fin
tove, arms crossed,
m sorry, I don't kn
the Lycan. You are lucky. He was with Derek the whole time and never noticed, a
erst
s, for fear, and finds none. "Rest. You se
ived.
hidden by trees and shadows where the nobles rarely go. The moon is bright, the water still, the stars scattered acro
nd the dress beneath it and fold them on the bank beside the spare. Then I close my eye
s over, and I stand on four white paws, radiant in the water'
old shocks me awake, rising to
tst
the dark. My white fur glows in the mo
saw my wolf, who looked at me like I mattered. He stops at the water's edge and kneels, and
the way from the keep. It was not hard to track." His voi
ut I have trusted before
he bank, then turns his back.
ss, pin my hair back, and walk to him with his cloak held out. "This is yours. It was
oes not put it on
cept gifts f
nk I am
is face, everything about him screa
gs. But I am not your enemy." His blue eye
runs cold
e mark. You are not a slav
breathe.
is shoulders. "Your secret is safe with me." He walks away,
ears into
he did not hurt me, did not tell anyone, did not use it against me. He jus
But I know I will not forget
ow if I can
hat is the most terr
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