The Forest Pact
ence, like the eye of a storm. Aurora and Silas came back to the cabin as the
exhaustion, but neith
out saying a word that their
r body stiff with the strain that still hung over her. Silas stoo
enetic tonight, as if some deeper di
d after a beat, pouring ho
their fingers touching
t did not drink. "Kael is gone,
d when they do, the
dn't be the end, but hearing it out loud made the
e. We'll fight
jaw ti
e was their representation of strength. It might even ma
im, maintaining eye cont
swering. "There's a place deep in the forest, a place th
eir hold over the fores
the Forest?"
derness, it's the essence of their strength. It is sacred to us, but also vulne
t. "So then we have t
find it and l
that simple. The heart is concea
those chosen by the
rora asked, h
ixing his eyes on hers. "But
st will
ave to deal with whatev
, not losing
at you have to do,
ts Silas had never explored, but his senses were sharp. Aur
the air became; the sunlight scarcely
e trees were shifting to surround the boys, mo
therecoming pressing upon her and the wood
Silas said ove
ora said, but her voice sound
rs pricked as if hearing
aid, feeling adrenalin
llowed," Silas
m. All she saw was the thick trees, b
ould say anything, a growl pierced the forest, a low,
taut. "Reveal yourself," he said, and his voice wa
a wolf, bigger than any
eyes glowing like co
pped into view, fillin
ispered, his voiceknife, but Silas rais
s," he said, his tone
ed, and Silas ch
h and agility unmatched. Aurora stared agog and horrified as
ling toward Aurora. She staggered bac
e the wolf could pounce on her,
d as if something had shattered its grip. It sp
l's echoes died. Aurora rushed to his sid
she asked, her
said, although h
hat howl?"
forest. It's doing its bes
g. The forest had intervened? It was an e
as said. "Is the Heart close? So
rived in a clearing like noth
as their bark sparkled with gen
tood a giant tree whose roots t
Forest, Silas sai
d Aurora moved even closer, heart racing. It was alive
tiful," sh
nd nodded. "But it's also fra
ground shook. The air thickened, a ch
Silas said, hi
time with the rogues stepping into the light. This time
a fight. Aurora stepped beside him, h
art," said the wom
f something prideful, maybe, i
nct and adrenaline. Silas, a blur of raw power and unerring grace, drawin
the chances against her
t the forest, but Silas, the wolve
rogues dead, the clea
xt to her, blo
omenal," he sa
ng with her heaving
ld slipping away for
more, Aurora," he said. "You'r
g as she held his stare. "And I
nd the gaze of the forest, their bond
had chosen