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I stopped behind the large trunk of a hollowed-out tree and peered around Two people stood in a clearing beside what looked like a station for field dressings—a table stacked with gauze, a box with a red plus sign, and various instruments I hadn’t seen before A stretcher sat at their feet, the white material stretched between the two poles stained crimson

The ed woman stood with perfect posture, her shoulders thrown back and head held high A blue dress ed her trim frame, and a white apron was cinched around her hborn, and the delicate way she gestured when speaking screaer, with sray trousers, a white button-up shirt, and hair with a perfect part down the side Like her, he had an air of refinement

I reers within the wood The butler, Hadriel, had thought they were all men, but Hadriel openly admitted he was terrible at his job

The bloody stretcher was eered, it wasn’t fresh

Taking a deep breath, hands tight around the hilt of the dagger, I stepped out fro place and into clear view

The couple didn’t notice uishable It was like they expected creatures with expert hearing to be passing by I lanced over

She startled, heracross her chest The man snapped his head toward me, very slow on the uptake A demonic creature would’ve made short work of this pair

I stopped where I was as the woaze slipped downin er in my hand

“My goodness,” sheat her companion “She looks positively wild”

The man did the same sweep, but his conclusions were clearly different His eyes lit up, and a little grin played on his lips He stepped forward, his gaze dipping tomy face

“You must be Finley,” the man said “Quite the beauty He said you would come”

My heart lurched “Nyfain?” I asked “Is he okay?”

The woman’s brows knitted in disapproval “You are to address him as—”