eat from a fevered dream. The forest had changed. Trees no longer stood straight but twisted upward in t

ere, like it had forg

es said yes. The weight pressing on her shoulders wasn't just exhaustion-it w

he di

she was

Blood beaded instantly, dark against her pale skin. She wiped it on her cloak an

fted. Lea

d a gnarled tree tru

cloak was woven from living thorns, yet it didn't pierce his skin. He held a staff carved f

in my gar

"I didn't know this pl

ecially here." He circled her slowly, his eyes never blinking

. Lover felt too soft. Ghost felt too cruel. "-Kael. His

stopped circling.

e murmured. "Then you tread

t's

e is ancient. Dangerous. Souls aren't mea

nched. "He is

here moments ago-arched with bone-white trees and lit by violet moss. "But if you're willing to wa

st. She thought of Kael's laugh, of the way he held her hands like they were ma

odded

isk eve

a small, ap

of the broken vow," he said. "And

ike that,