RA'

jecte

new

old, distant, final. Not longing. Not wa

bani

a bell struck in rage. Banishment. No

il

could hurt worse

s wr

osed mate... he didn't even fli

o bond. No

. reje

m

arched for i

I felt w

o

s bruising my arms. My legs scraped against the palace ston

d them

ish

it

tca

n't even

hear it. They wa

dn't

t

. inside, my

like a gaping wound. An emptiness

... and w

ike I

ates me?" I'd

I

d

. Her arms were held back by villa

m not to take me. Her prayers ripped thr

idn't even get to say goodbye. I didn't get

t get a

t s

d me tighter than the ro

he pack houses. Past every piece of th

eamed: You're

red: You were neve

om the ropes, my skin raw and burning. My vision swam, tears threate

th

Dono

A wound. The echo of it in

ilth beneath his boots. The same man who pulled

ish

t just as a mate,

it h

it

alace halls. Murmurs of witch, cursed, freak, whispered like blades

ne of the guards barked t

I stumbled, catching mys

tyard. Rain had started to fall, soft and chilling. It c

ates

real

going to t

nt to see my mother.

aybe Hazel would come running.

o one

e eve

arms again. One pull

" he s

the mud. "You don'

re orders

at hi

t hit m

doubling over. Then another guard kick

ursed brat," on

," another whispered. "My cousin

lau

e else step

oug

was cold.

oked

ack and silver armor of the Midnight Palace elite guard.

banishment. Not exec

ed. Then reluctant

ay, arms shaking. My bre

" the sold

tr

ail

knelt beside me, pulled a dagger,

at him,

nt," he muttered under his breath, t

couldn't speak. My throat was

I r

nto the woods. I

very branch tore my skin. Until I co

. Hard. Aga

t. My breath cam

ovan

was poi

e let the

't he st

s my

banis

t creaked

-gro

Gut

fr

inked throu

ni

d turne

, one by one. Black fur. Snarli

cir

ping

racing, eyes darting. No wea

houted, though m

lu

g its claws. It snarled

swinging. Another creature sn

ra

et bled from stones and roots. Snarl

ackle

ound. Its weight crushed my ches

h

r of

reature. Blood sprayed. It

asp

. Glowing eyes. It attacked without

joine

oyal

nt. Swift. Ruthle

Dono

my side and stood guard over me whi

e didn't

nded, I w

lves s

had the same icy eyes as

dn't

handed m

no

anished int

were

they h

dn't

thing wa

s followed Do

e... jus

believed I was

sn't

dn't d

t