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 voice

knife, 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