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I tripped over my own feet and fell onto my hands. My palms smarted when they hit the wood boards, and one of my wrists gave a pang. Someone took my arm in his hand.

“Are you okay?”

It was another hunter, the odd one the girls laughed at behind their hands, and I pulled my arm away from him. I scrambled to get up on my own. I couldn’t get out quick enough. When the door opened and Roan appeared in the door frame looking surprised to see me, I didn’t slow. I pushed through him, our shoulders hitting so that he had to step back, pivoting on his foot.

“Fenli?”

I hurried out into the dark night.

Fire blood.

I’d heard those words before. Would I never be rid of them?

I wore them around my neck the way the men wore the animal ears. They pulled on me, weighing me down. I stumbled under the weight of them.

When I reached Roan’s hut, I saw myself in, sure to close the door tight behind me. There was nothing to be done, so I headed backto the hearth and built a fire. I felt the heat on my face, watched it consume whole logs, and I let the tears I cried wash my cheeks.

My father’s clan, the clan of fire and forge. Burning away all that was corrupt and leaving only the pure behind. Merciless. Passionate. Flames licking. Ash and smoke.

Oh, how I craved the rain. How I needed the forgiving water to run down my skin and put out the fire inside.

Whoever had whispered those words thought I deserved fire. Maybe they all did.

But what did I deserve?

Storm and sky, rain and wind.

I wanted it to be true.

But I didn’t think it was.

Chapter Twelve

Roan

All I knew was what Jory had told me, that Baer had called on Fenli and embarrassed her in front of the men who’d been in the hall. She’d retreated when he’d dismissed her, fallen, and Jory had helped her up. Then she’d struck shoulders with me on her way out.

And I was furious with my father.

I headed straight for him.

“Whoa, let’s think this through—” Jory was saying behind me, but I ignored him.

“Baer,” I said, drawing his attention from the man beside him.

He looked me up and down. “It’s about time you show up. We’ve been going over the plan for the salmon run and—”

“Why would you do that to her?” I said, cutting him off. I never cut Baer off. I never came to him with so much anger pounding through me, and I never questioned him.

His brows pulled together, and he almost smiled.

“Do what?”

“You brought her in here and embarrassed her in front of everyone.”

He sat in his chair. “Nonsense. If she’s embarrassed, she embarrassed herself. All I did was talk to her about a job. She can’t keep caring for the birds.”

I gritted my teeth. The surrounding hall had grown quiet. Men were listening, and whatever I said would be spread far and wide through the clan.