, nobody in the c
pulled the ground out from under his feet. Around us, dozens of students had frozen in place. A girl clutching a stack of
gold drained out of his ey
oudly, but something in his voice made t
in strained whispers. The girl with the b
xhaled slowly, and when he finally turned back, his expre
ed for the word. "The moon cycle. It affec
somethin
ed to mine. "Wh
in
and I had no idea what it meant. But the way he asked
aid. "I think I
ht have imagined it. "It's a long journey." He gest
ey were trembling, just slightly, and he
lt different
where long tables glowed under hanging lanterns of pale silver light. He showed me the library, whose ceiling was lost in shadow and whose shelves seemed to climb fore
mpires share most lessons, but the dormitories are sep
"Wolves," I repeat
me sidelong. "Y
d it. In the letter. I just didn't thin
Kael said
es
pped. His gray eyes searched my face with an expres
lived with a family. They found me on their porch when I was a
words slid out before I could st
, and for a heartbeat he looked less like a prince and more like someth
ong," he said,
use
" he said again,
only inches away now, close enough that I could see the ring of gold around his irises
towers, deep and resonant, and Kael st
aid hoarsely. "Curfew soon.
rm against the violet sky. Kael led me up a spiral staircase, down a corridor line
e should be in
uld
" He stopped, frowning.
nock, but the door fl
e you
thick auburn braid over one shoulder, a spray of freckles across her nose, and a thin white scar along her jaw that some
e, I hope that's okay, but I can switch, I don't mind, I just like the moon..." She st
that
into the apple and glanced past me. Her eyes
ide," Kael
ed anyone anywher
es
nashamed. "He doesn't usually do the tours. La
He cleared his throat, turned to
" he said quietly, "anythin
," I
something more he wanted to say. Then he turned and strode back d
w whistle and pull
hing from the Night Wing kitchen unless you know what's in it. Third rule..." She dropped the apple core into a bin and regarded me
dropped.
er bed, her amber eyes gentle. "But I don
ven know w
id softly. "That's
er braid half undone and her feet tangled i
, silver moon. Without night and day, I couldn't tell how many hours had p
r my shirt. It was cool now, quiet, as
lack roses glittered in the frost. The
t tower, far above the rest,
e stood
vy cloak that moved faintly in the wind. I couldn't see his face from here. B
looking
istakable, burning gold, the exact same go
the glass, my breath
, silent and patient, like a wolf who has finally fou
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