Page 14 (1/2)

1

The air traps hot insidethe shadowed depths, so reo This one is empty, but soon I’ll occupy its space Alone My eyes start to burn fro so hard at my soon-to-be prison and I blink swiftly This is my choice, I remind myself

“You don’t have to do this,” Will says, holding ainst the inside ofmy pulse jump to life, and I suddenly re is always easier Bearable

Even this

I nod even though fear twists like a hot poker insideI have to slip e of the door “Yes I do”

“We can come up with another way—”

“No This ork” It’s my idea Of course I believe in it I persuaded thereed Will Cassian Tamra We’ve already co, hidden away until Will and Cassian return for her

Will’s expression tightens, ly beautiful I blink and s his square, bristly jaw “It’s going to be all right,” I reassure him “Just stick with the plan”

“Don’t do anything stupid in there … don’t try to be a hero—”

I press ers to his lips to silence hiold, browns, and greens like a forest in fall So unfurls in my chest as it always does when he looks at me that way

Drawing in a deep breath, I look over at Cassian, self-conscious that he’s watching us But he’s staring out at the tree line, one shoe kicking the ground Even so, I can feel hi hard to give Will and me our space, but I sense his active concentration to avoid looking at us … his struggle to hide the annoyance snaking through him

I wait for hilance over Maybe I even will hi is still new When he finally looks, I nod at hiht nod back

I twirl a finger in a s them both, “Now turn around”

The barest ses So does Cassian With their backs toonout ofextra care … as if this action is of the ut

Naked, I stand and stare at Will’s back The s shoulder blades Air slides over me and the sun kisses my flesh This is when I’m supposed to climb into the van and close the doors This is e head into the lion’s den Where they will leave ivethere

My throat tightens anyway Suddenly rasp Will’s shoulder and force hi ive it everything I put the h Our ti to destroyto kill him …

His hands wrap around my back I kiss him until the familiar burn starts at my core and crawls up

And naked

Will’s gaze flickers down, h on an inhale My cheeks burn hotter, but I still linger Searing eo I have to go or I never will

I jump in the van and start to pull the doors shut

His voice stops me “Wait”

I peer out at him

“You have to manifest” He holds up the ties

“Oh” How did I forget? We have to do this right Bait the hook

I step down Standing there, I force the change With ly in reaction to Will, it doesn’t take long Ifree with a faint crackle on the air

Will gazes at h me, melts me inside to see that he still can look at me, in my draki form, appreciatively Just like he did the first ti beautiful and not the creature his family hunts It’s a helpful boost to eymen of my childhood—the enkros—the ones who send the hunters after ht, shuddery breath ripples through me

Will quickly but gently ties s He avoids h he can’t bear to do this to me

I feel the change come over Cassian as he turns Doubt radiates from him as I’m bound like a captive before his very eyes

Will looks up at my face as he helps me back into the van I offer a smile It feels weak, and forced, so I let the sht

Then I turn, positioning my back to him So he can’t see my face anymore