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“Many thanks for this.” I took the satchel from Asger and held it up with two fingers. “Best find a shelter soon, lady. Not wise to be out in the open when Torrent strikes.”

I turned away, but something heavy struck the back of my head. The woman, now short her fox mantle, stalked toward me, fists clenched a new kind of fire in her eyes.

“Did you . . .” My gaze dropped to the head of the creature, lifeless in the dirt. “Throw a fur wrap at me?”

“I wanted its teeth to hit you. I changed my mind. Give me. My. Bag.”

Before I could step aside, this little thing had her fingers curled around the strap. By the souls, she was swift.

A chuckle, deep and low, slid from my chest.

I yanked on the strap with enough force, the woman stumbled. I caught her around the waist, taking too much pleasure in the soft gasp that slid between her lips once our chests crashed together.

My hand moved on its own, through madness, or something more, but I waved a hand over my face, removing the manipulated bone on my features.

“What are you—” Asger didn’t get to complete his latest bout of fretting before the skull mask dissolved into bone dust at our feet.

The woman widened her eyes, studying mine. “You . . . you don’t look the same.”

“Bone mage,” I said, an edge to my tone. “I will make myself look as I please.”

Much like me, she didn’t blink away, merely held my gaze like anobsession. Just beneath the surface, new heat simmered in my veins. Something dark, something greedy. For a fleeting moment, all I wanted was to lean forward and breathe her in.

Then, she kicked my damn leg and yanked on the strap again.

“Give me my bag.”

“Kappi are coming.” Cy pointed to the north.

Dammit. I sloughed off the cloak on my shoulders and tossed it at the woman. “Keep warm. The royal guards will take you back to the palace.”

“Look, just give me my bag.” Her tone had grown desperate. “Give it back and I’ll . . . I’ll give you the knife back.”

There, in her grip, was my mother’s blade—a gift bestowed upon firstborns since my grandfather’s grandfather. My lip curled. “Do not test me, woman.”

“Oh no, dickhead,” she said, tossing the jade knife between her hands. “Don’t test me.”

Gwyn tugged on my elbow. “No time, you fool. Come.”

I hesitated, attempting to ignore the pound of hooves along the forest pathways. Kappi would be clearing out bowers and huts, herding folk into the palace gates for shelter through Torrent. A roar of frustrated anger broke from my chest. I pointed a mute threat at the woman, the wretched woman who played a disoriented innocent, but was a thief in disguise.

And I’d been played for a fool.

“Tell the prince’s guards you were lost,” Asger shouted over his shoulder. “They will aid you.”

“I’ll tell them some masked assholes robbed me,” she returned.

I laughed and murmured, too far for her to hear, “I wish you the best of luck, Wildling. Truly.”

Then, I stepped into the forest, arms outstretched, and waited for Gwyn’s muttered shadowing spells to swallow us whole.

CHAPTER 7

Adira

He. . . he disappeared. They all did. One second they were at the edge of the trees, then in the next, this horrid, inky mist just . . . took him.

My body trembled like a hummingbird.