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Chapter 1

Run!

Run, as fast as you can

Joss was co

He was co for her

Clelia d’Ambois ith a start Beneath her, the earth was damp Above her, pine trees had their arht of thedown at the intruder with quiet curiosity

She jackknifed into a sitting position Snow, her wolfdog, yelped From farther away, the other three wolf hybrids, Rain, Cloud, and Thunder, howled

The horizon was already a deep purple Morning wasn’t far The pine needles rustled in the breeze that swept through the forest She shivered, not only because her pajamas et from dew, but also because the trees had turned restless as if sensing the danger

Snow licked her arm

She trailed her fingers over his fur “How long have I been out here?”

If only he could answer He trotted to the other dogs that waited on the outskirts, anticipating her co tail

“Ho her hands

The dogs took off in the direction of the cottage, slowing at the top of the hill tobehind, she

It was always the sa a net of ripples over the water while she walked down the jetty like a bug to a windshield Around her, the forest bordering the island was dark, and beyond it, the village was burning

The helicopter turned and dipped, no longer circling but with deliberate direction this time They’d found her Her heartbeat leapt with the flames as the aircraft landed on the quay at the end of the jetty The sound of the blades vibrated in her chest