Mark Of Vesper

ream either. She couldn't move. unable to speak. The world flickered and splintered a

the ves

y the forbid

akens...

, si

eam sh

Everything was strange, too heavy, too still, even after the world had returned. Rain tapped softly again

ift bedroll under a canvas tarp. Her entire body hurt.

d a whetstone down its curved edge. Silver shadows were formed on his face by th

tly, eyes still on the blad

bed like it had been split open. "I hea

sed mid-

That happens when something's nearby-something

ayed. As though it had its own heartbeat

she asked.

hough he was exhausted, he couldn'

chosen you. And now every twisted thing that remembers the ol

settled i

rotect me?

esitate. "W

burned and distant thunder rang through the trees,

way he moved like a man who was always willing to bleed. There

ently, "What h

't speak right away. His

finally. "A long time ago. S

ink protecting

ted to hers-

might give

harp crack echoed from deeper

ent to his belt. He threw a little blade at her without saying

ed. Measured. Ste

into the dark

ng its breath, and Aria hunkered down next to the fire, heart rac

en entered

er. Not a s

gi

rough. Pale as bone. Her clothes were torn and her f

ped. "Please...

ehind her, blade drawn,

ming?" he

lips were blue. Her eyes wide with so

ing us. Using us for something. Said one of us was marked. I thou

nt of Aria. His sta

"How did yo

e," she said. "It whispered where to go

flared to life, sea

e's lying," he muttered. "No on

ks terrified

ters," Kae

osture shifted. She stood straighter.

ice ch

to deliver

on Aria's

ged-but

if something else peered through them. Her mouth opene

it said, "or the fire

ed. Her back arched unnaturally-then collapsed

e, frozen. Her mark bu

checked for signs of life. N

imly. "They're using hosts now.

trying to steady her vo

trees, then back at h

found a way to send messages through the vei

ught. "What happ

e. His voice dro

nside you won't b