FATED BY BLOOD AND FIRE

ill

s against the wall, and I held my knife tight. My eyes kept moving back and forth between the boarded-up window and the locked door. There was more noise from the claw

ut the low, mean growl on the roof kept going. To listen, I held my breath. A big hit cam

The necklace and the note were still in my pocket. They felt heavy, like secrets I could not get out. It kept going through my mind wha

d. Someone yelled, "Mira!" from the hallway. Frank was there. H

unning away. The wolf outside my window barked one more time, and then it stopped. Even though I did not believe it,

He had white knuckles around the handle of the axe he was hol

g as I said, "Yeah."

t ours." I heard them outside. "Remain her

still in my hand. I was not going to

e did not argue, which I thought for a second.

rk. With his axe ready, Lucien moved quickly through the fog. I went after them with my h

is knees to look at the ground. I also saw them. They were big, deep paw prints that we

oice, "Who sent them?" e

out, though. For a moment, he looked at me with a soft face.

et Marta at the burned-out clearing. I needed her to show me. As I walked

ife and necklace under my pillow. I could not take my mind off of Lucien's worried face as he ran to my door. D

Elin was there and waved her stuffed wolf at me. Hi Mira!

er and said, "Yeah."

toy. "Lucien told them t

le I ate my porridge, I looked around the room and barely tasted it. A man with a grey beard and Marta were talking at a different tabl

wolves in the dark. I heard Torren telling another guard that they found more tracks close to the riv

hing clothes. There was silence when I got close, and they look

widely. "Getting comfortable, Mira?

, "Yeah." "This is nice. But thos

aid, "Those are not our wolves." "The council has been tense

I asked, my he

e first woman quickly said, "No

meant me. As I left, I ran my hand over the note in my pocket.

h his spear over his shoulder. Marta also walked by with a basket on her back. For a moment, her eyes met mine. She nodded ba

t. The note's words stuck in my mind like a bad memory. When it was quiet in the packhouse, I crept out, but

fe ready and looked around in the fog. My heart was racing, and memories of fires were

I saw a shadow move. "W

he walked into the clearing with a small bund

but I did not take it a

ow edges. "Records from the council," she said. "They show the lies

came from the trees before I could touch them. She stood s

heart was racing as I took Marta's papers. The wolves were getting closer, the