Ember's of the Silent Wolf

'd walked toward her like someone who had alre

in the quiet

fraid," h

ke an accusation, but like a truth she'd bur

voice had betrayed her. It always did when

, her spine cold. The fading light bathed the forest in gold and indigo. The ni

what wait

Strength. Wolves

she cradled her head in her hands. How could

scorching and freezing in one look. He saw her. Not like the others

her as if he re

t terri

le a hollow ache gnawed at her from within. She had told herself a hundred times it didn't m

th screamed

the way Lucian's voice had lowered,

e going through...

r was he playing

ucian, he reeked of power. The way he stood. The way the air shifted

ghtly when he'd said, "I've been watching yo

he voice of a

eone who had waited too l

napped b

s breat

only Lyra, her blonde hair wi

nds on her knees. "We've been lo

of static, her pulse racing from mor

n paused, frowning. "You

t lo

you're thinking too muc

her head. "

Lyra asked, voice s

lence was a

s flicking with worry. "He

ng her fingers into the bark

nd

e. That there's something differ

ifted. "Well,

ly. "You don't even

And if he sees what I see, then maybe he's

d away, her

e?" Lyra asked after a b

he wanted was simple. To belong. To be whole. To wake one day and fe

wasn't of

s

e said finally. "I

ut

omething. When h

faintly. "So

ead, lost. "Someth

y. "Sometimes danger is the only thing str

to her feet. Her muscles ached, but the t

the clearing. You can sneak back in with me, i

ated. Then n

as they neared the firelight,

nned th

sn't

. Somewhere in the sha

tucked beneath her chin. The moon had risen high, casting silv

ce still ran

o help yo

her? W

see that no

new voice, one sh

orah, his thick white beard g

tartled. "I didn't k

s," he said, easing down beside he

If this is ab

rrupted gently. "Bu

ad, not trusting

. The others whisper when they think you can't hea

aught. "Then

ng. Like a fla

him. "And if i

'll be the first of your kind. And you'll sti

r eyes, but she

Jorah added after a pause.

" she wh

ou're draw

no

feel isn't toward safety. It's toward tru

eep that nigh

gold. Her own reflection, shifting. Her skin b

she heard it, dee

gr

Distan

right in be

t barely tou

hadn't come

ome from