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Theora drops her eyes, flushing I know she’s attracted to me, but it’s pretty obvious this Blood Mate connection we have is more on my side than hers Of all the people in the world to for heart chose a hybrid Lupine, who can’t properly for forotten to know each other better, I’ll develop those feelings for you too I just need tiest all this too It’s a lot to take in But I’rateful for what’s happened I’ve spentto ht it would be with Catherine, but I rong I glance at Theora and she smiles Maybe in time
The bedroom door opens and Alaric enters the roorandfather stay with us," he says, and relief washes through ether"
"I’off his blanket
Ulrika leaps up and shoves him down on the bed "No you’re not! You’re injured"
"I’o, Uncle Annora’s ers here are treated as equals There’s no question about their ability to handle the too," Ulrika ht"
• • •
As soon as night falls, we head to Arits his teeth as we hurry through the forest, trying not to let his pain show in front of Alaric and Ulrika Even though it’s dark, we’re able to navigate the woods--Lucinda and I have good night vision, while the Lupines follow their old scent trails from their previous visits to the town Theora takes h the trees, her anxious eyes flitting up to h I’ we’re being followed, but there’s no one there It’s probably justtricks on me
After a few hours the woodlands thin out and we reach thethe forest from the Boundary Wall that surrounds Aht of that wall, but froe point I realize how ridiculous it is The people of Amber Hills have spent their whole lives imprisoned within the confines of that wall to protect thes Now I realize it would’ve s inside the co the top of the wall are Mr Kent and three new Watchmen They haven’t seen us yet, as we’re still hidden in the tree line Mr Kent is on the side of the Boundary Wall nearest to us He silently paces up and down, holding a rifle Froirl wails in pain Annora Lucinda rushes forward, but Ulrika grabs her and drags her into the tree line just as Mr Kent turns to look in our direction He lifts his gun and aims it at the forest No one makes a sound as Mr Kent stares in our direction I hold un and moves on I exhale
"We have twothe Watchman’s patrol route
Alaric waves at us to follow him We rush across the etting up--they’ve done this a few tile to find the handholds She ers "Oh!" she gasps as she skids down the wall a few inches before catching herself Her boot kicks runt in pain "Sorry," she whispers Alaric and Theora reach down for us and pull us up the rest of the way We drop down the other side just as Mr Kent turns He doesn’t see us
The town is silent as we stalk through the cobbled streets Even so, I scan the alleyways around us, unable to shake the feeling we’re being watched, but there’s nothing there except shadows dancing in the ht
"Where do you think they’ll be?" Lucinda asks
"The town square," I say, thinking about the wooden cross "Mr Langdon ant them on display for everyone to see"
The six of us hurry down the dark alleyways, passing Mrs Hope’s cottage along the way The flowers on her porch have died and withered It’s after curfew, so I’ to bump into anyone, but even so, I’ is the same as it alas: the church doer-shaped shadow across the don’s General Store, and to the left of the building is the curiosity shop The taxiderlass eyes Beside the hearts I can al: ba-boom, ba-boom, ba-boom
In the center of the town square is the wooden cross Theora’s hand tightens around randfather is bound to one side of the cross with silver chains, his body stripped bare His pale skin is covered in deep purple bruises Crudely carved into his chest are tords: RACE TRAITOR
Tied to the other side of the cross is Annora She’s naked, and her thin body is wrapped in silver chains Like Lupines, Darklings are severely allergic to the silver, and the metal has seared her sensitive skin, which is already red-raw and flaking froruesome hole in her shoulder where Drew shot her She lets out a wail of pain, her cracked lips splitting over her fangs It’s obvious Mr Langdon’s put them up here as bait, but we sprint over to the at the chains holding up Annora while Theora helps randfather’s ankles, fury and tears blindingmy bare skin as I peel the to get the word out through his dry lips
"I’et you out of here," I say
"Go," he says "Not safe"
"I’roans as I remove the last of the chains and he falls heavily into round Oooph All the air leaves ainst ht and notices Alaric
"What are you doing here?" Grandfather asks, confused
"You’re coreed to--"
His words are cut off as the door opens to Langdon’s General Store Patrick appears at the doorway, holding a rifle