Page 48

The corner of Roan’s mouth twitches, just a flicker. “And you’re terrible at listening, Mouse.”

The words should be sharp, but they’re not. They’re soft, edged with something almost… fond.

I swallow, stepping back so I can straighten. My heart still thuds like a war drum, but my voice comes out steadier this time. “Okay,” I manage, meeting her eyes. “I’ll try to listen for once. If we face them, we do so together.”

Roan grins, and I find myself offering a small smile back. “That’s more like it,” she murmurs, scanning the gloom once more. “Now, stay close. We need to figure out how many of them are out there. And remember what I taught you,” she says, low and pointed. “Cheat.”

A huff of laughter escapes me, too quick and nervous to be real. “Right. Cheat. Because that’s what’s going to save us against trained enforcers.”

Roan’s expression sobers. “It might.”

Her gaze lingers, searching, and I know what she’s really asking.Do you understand? Are you ready for this?

I nod, pressing my lips together. “I remember.”

“Good,” Roan murmurs. Then she turns, stepping silently toward the underbrush, every movement controlled, predatory. She tilts her head slightly, signaling me forward. “Lead the way.”

I force my body to move, to shove my fear down deep, where it won’t get in the way. The forest is thick with shadows, the scent of damp earth clinging to the air. Every rustle of leaves sends my pulse hammering harder.

Roan moves like she belongs to this world, slipping through the darkness with effortless grace. I do my best to mimic her, keeping close, remembering how she taught me to step lightly, to keep my weight centered.

We move deeper into the trees, and the hush of the forest stretches taut around us. My fingers tighten around the dagger at my hip.

Because if it comes to it, I won’t hesitate.

Roan

Mygriptightensonthe hilt of my sword as I press my back to a thick trunk, forcing my breath to slow.

I can feel Aria’s ragged exhale at my side, her shoulder trembling barely an inch away from mine. We’ve managed to slip into the shadows near a giant pine—a vantage point with just enough cover to see the enforcers filtering throughourforest.

There are four of them—two pairs moving in tandem, their dark cloaks blending seamlessly into the shifting gloom. They’re careful, methodical, sweeping through the underbrush with a lethal sort of patience. Trained. Disciplined.

Vampires.

And not just any vampires—herclan.

A sharp pulse of adrenaline burns through my veins, but I force myself to steady. I’ve never fought a vampire before, but I’ve seen Aria bleed. I know what she is. I know what they are.

And if they bleed, they can be killed.

I tighten my grip on my sword, testing the weight of it in my palm. My knuckles ache from how hard I’ve been gripping the hilt. I exhale slowly, rolling my shoulders back, keeping my stance loose. Fear will only make me slower.

I spare a quick glance at Aria.

She’s gone still beside me, but not in the way I’d hoped. Her breath comes too shallow, her fingers trembling just slightly where they curl against her cloak. Her gaze darts between the moving figures, not with strategy—but with something dangerously close to terror.

She’s afraid.

I swallow hard, my grip tightening on my sword.

Of course, she is.This isn’t some nameless enemy. This is her past hunting her down, the monsters that raised her closing in like wolves scenting blood.

And for all her sharp words and steady hands, she’s still standing frozen beside me.

My stomach knots at the fear etched across her face, but I can’t let that distract me. If I lose focus now, we’re both done for.

So I do the only thing I can—I nudge her, just enough to pull her back from wherever her mind has gone. Just enough to remind her she’s not alone.