The Wolf King's Daughter

I repeat, h

Two men flanked him. One of them had the

ts like acid

s's

Rafe asks

t river. They're setting up camp-qu

My voice comes out too calm, to

us. "If you go in now, you'll get o

t hidin

him without a plan," he snaps. "You want re

nch m

nowing why he's here. He's not the type to ris

wanted," I say. "My fa

s slowly, "he's here t

t have to

e

ve at

fight.

e forest, following paths

ridge, we

One fire.

to me, shoulders broader than I rememb

gn

at first. Not rage.

t the base of my spine and sp

him," I

ss. "He doesn't look l

omething quieter. Either to make a

t him tr

Rafe suggests. "Y

upt. "He'll kn

to me. "That's the point.

if he

ind where he's hidi

leave the ma

ook me in the ey

hen tonight, you'l

come

cloak dropped, hair loose, noth

No wind. No soun

, letting my boots crush the dr

it w

ne st

ices across

's t

ore step. Le

fre

.Ly

member, but it's his. My uncl

o left me

y no

doesn't believe it. Lik

again, slower no

y evenly. "D

and he stops wal

st of them?" I finish. "Sorry

allow

dea what happe

ll like the rest of us," I cu

force

ere pa

. "You think thi

ways abo

-he was losing control. The High Circle wanted him

burned h

sn't a

what I t

knife fro

his hands

were just a child. I made sure they di

ive out o

s, and now his voice changes. Softer. Realer. "Your father

whether to

hold the bl

our reasons. I'm he

"If that's what y

econd,

he trees behind me, b

y eyes o

Why show your face

shoulder at Rafe,

ow what Cyrus

I say, step

ys, "you don't get t

t Rafe. He

t tal

ys next makes

reparing a

od ri

throne using my bloodline. My existence is the last key t

at camp? It's not the real one. Just bait. Cyrus sent others.

rward. "Then we

of time,"

pull my eyes

er, "I'll put the blade th

" he says. "Tha

ve him. Not f

lieve th

the forest wi

y arms. My legs ac

don't

h the village, smok

yet but sign

ses under

're h

it ins

rracks to raise the al

ome wi

say. "

not until we make sure t

rgue, not

t toward

dge of the main square, a

And in his hand, he holds a curv

hing

me back ins

an sm

ooking for yo

w my

aise

e shapes emerge

them,th

n m

oward me. "R

N

un

er get th

st knife slices

ything g