Crimson Contracts

on ros

winter's peak but blood-moon red. It split the sky like a woun

long before

against her ribs. Her skin crawled. Her heartbeat pi

hing

ing fu

Court. Below her, black pines bristled in the wind.

hed from the north that

attered t

ry for

alle

she wh

f prince ha

idn't

't h

tly in her hand. Each step echoed with memory her escape, her

edge in time to see him

a

an caught between

h rage. His golden eyes locked onto hers like they were mag

dn't

at f

h footstep sinking into t

d you," h

the dagger tighter.

e you in his

t have a

trembling not from weakness, b

oices. You always do.

er between them. "This

say his

hind him, the forest

Kael said, eyes glinting. "

handed me to

ve protec

That electric thread that had once tied them together thro

thing ha

e Pact pulsed, burning

he dagger... it's not just a weapon. It's al

g poisons everything it touches.

was firm. "I c

that what he told you? While he fed y

meeting his anger w

to claim, Kae

shattered

the pain un

Like the part of him that once loved her wa

shed her cheek, an

ered, voice breaking. "Be

osed he

never a

, the fores

rom w

omethi

toward the sound.

," he muttered. "

ened. "Your fat

e here. They'll kill anyone who pr

toward the tower.

her arm. "N

gain, Kael. I

serve a blood-sucking tyrant? To w

ing me how

you that," Kael said.

No. You would've tau

linc

lways been thei

the distance

cur

d. "They'll circle the mount

l execu

dded

d y

smile. "They'll save t

idn't

mo

into place. She ducked, he shielded. She cut left, he leapt righ

he high wall of the

an get you out i

hesi

rt tore

e boy she once trusted with e

art whispered

urpose.

ulsed again,

ng

from the shadows

g it would take you

h. "I should gut yo

almly. "And I'll show y

pped bet

to

cracked li

males

ched, the dagger in han

er," she said. "I am the wielder

llow. "Even if it m

d him in

es

le

el turn

," he said, without

do," she

into the mist, th

stood th

she w

her side, hands cla

dn't ki

ould

But...

smi

t the night