Thorns Of Her Reborn

gown caught the light fro

glass of sparkling water, still half full. Below her, two hundred of Aethelgard Bay's richest i

oor stood Viv

was pulled back tight. She smiled for a press

pale blue Alpine Star. The petals were thin and faded with age. She ro

. This woman had killed her gr

s so tight that her cheekbones showed. You think

years ago, there was only Lyra Vance, a girl who th

Earlier - P

It came down hard and sideways. It rattl

vered in wet soil. She was cutting dead leaves off a tray of wi

he wooden fence by the r

ender. She wiped her forehead with her sleeve and

under the rain. It s

om the hook by the door and stepped into the muddy driveway. The wind

he lavender bed, a man la

aked with rain and blood. His left arm was wrapped

grass and put the la

Can you

te as chalk. A deep cut ran along his jaw. Even covered in blood and

hed his

d in dark, sticky crimson. A long, jagged cut ran along his right side, just below h

nds hard against the wound. It was hot and slick. "Nana,

and wild. They were full of fear. His hand shot ou

ce sounded like stones grin

th," Lyra said. Her wri

ntil her skin turned white. Then his eyes rolled ba

er boots slid in the wet clay. She dragged the heavy

not know his own family had sent hitmen after him. She

ing that saving him wo

led of damp wood

ew long, shaky shadows across the low ceiling. Rain pushed thro

s heavy. Lyra's arms shook by the time they were done. His wool coat

er apron still had flour on it. Her hands were steady,

ra?" she asked

hands on a dish towel. "He was in the

a said. She looked at his hands. "And

n. A heavy silver ring sat on his right forefinger. Even un

shears and cut his unders

It was about five inches long. Blood ran down his side and soaked the waistband of his trou

er her fingers. She checked his lips. There was no blood in his mouth. "It went ac

e already knew the answer. The nearest one was an hour

it well. If dirt stays in there,

nto the boiling pot. She added

m water, wrung it out, a

lew open. He gasped. Before Lyra could move, his

choked. She grab

und the room. He saw the dried herbs hanging from the beams

Her boots scraped the floor. "Y

rls, the dirt on her forehead, and her wide hazel

loosened. His arm dr

st heaved. Sweat ran down

"I'm trying to save your life. Grab

ed. It was almost a smile,

e pot with a spoon and let it co

are too old for small stitches

itched a perso

en years. It's the same work." N

n whispered. He shut hi

e it. She picked the grit out with clean tweezers. Then

ped in his cheek. His knuckles went white on t

ettled. She pulled each stitch tight and closed the cut o

the rain had softened to a

grew deep and slow

Her hands were still shaking. She felt in his wet c

There was no lic

ls with a rubber band around it. She found a

e put the money on the counter.

with that much cash and a wound like that for honest reasons," she sai

ce. In the lamplight, the hard

days, Nana. He c

ulder. "I had a nephew who went down the mountain. He came back with n

. "You never t

a said. "