hrough Kael's che
xploded through his ribs, sharp and breath-stealing. The elders froze mid-argument. P
rely he
ond b
left. Not the distant throb he had trained him
live," h
d out before he
rne frown
ng control back into his limbs.
No one argued when his
pressed his fist against his chest. The pain pulsed
ren
as no long
as a
e smoke. Searches had turned up nothing. Nobody. No blood. Just absence
nd told hi
ed," he
was strong enough for th
mountains and old magic. Snow dusted the high ridges even under the s
l market with steady steps, a wo
a small voi
instantly. "You were the
e Elara, dark curls bouncing with each step. Her eyes, silver a
ies," Mira sai
Elara replied lightly.
Others bowed their heads slightly toward Elara. She noticed it without
enly, tugging at her sle
a pa
do you
ning to something only she
aced a hand over her heart inst
," she said.
nconvinced, but
the edge of the Frostveil territory. It
door, arms crossed,
" Elara said befo
e air shifted. Ol
ed slightly. "Th
thing," Rowan said caref
ar the doorway, drawing shapes in the dirt with he
stomach
" she sa
ed withou
r go. "She's str
kno
gerous,"
," Elara
ot sleep t
elt suddenly smaller. The bond pulled, a steady ache now, directional.
om me," he
urvived w
hurt more than
ed carefully. "A
Kael s
uard
lids, unbidden. Elara's calm face. Her steady vo
been p
im hard, sharp enoug
he sai
pulsed once,
irma
ing until stone crack
ch
i
efore dawn,
ember. She sat up slowly, pressing her
ere," she
eside her. "He
rom her daughter's fa
her eyes stayed o
said. "He'
red that. "T
miled f
dressed quietly. She stepped outside
s later. "You're leavin
said. "But I won't let hi
d her. "He w
take," Elara r
once. "Then
he Silver Fang
faintly as he approached, responding to the Alph
land he did
in his life, power
he said,
swered with
did
aightene
is once," he sa
is pack, decision settl
ld fin
s an
a com
roken something precious
, Mira's small hand clasped in hers. She felt the
ot turn t
daughter's hand and stared for
rejected h
asn't his
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