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Prologue

Black Hollow, Etria

1879

Bellaentle a coin into it, the clinking soundThe currency represented food and safety, at least for now The gentleenerous that afternoon, especially since Bella halls on the outskirts of Black Hollow, also known as Beggar’s Hole He shook the basin to jingle the coins froh to hand over to Gladstone that night Bella of Gladstone’s beady eyes narrowing at hi him what he needed Not that he’d ever hurt him—well, not yet—but just the threat of it from him and the other

He’d been one of Gladstone’s boys since his mother was killed by a wolf a year before, at half-past his sixteenth birthday Frightened of returning to the ransacked roo the streets, alone, when Gladstone found hi, along with some food for his belly

“Must’ve been a rabid wolf,” Gladstone had told hi his story, which made sense to Bellamy, not only because his ht, but because he could scarcely banish the bloody fangs and hts “If the authorities catch wind, they’ll hunt him down and put him out of his misery”

Bella, or was thehim?

“Have you told anyone about what you saw?” Gladstone had asked

“No, I…I was too frightened”

“It’s all right” Gladstone had patted his shoulder in what Bellamy assumed was a paternal way, one he wasn’t fa when his father died and didn’t get to know him “I’ll keep you safe”

Bellamy had believed hie, all he had to do was hold up an ery—which wasn’t much of a stretch—and then hand over the money he earned He was ser than his seventeen years It had alorked in his favor, even with his mother, when he’d pleaded for a favorite delicacy they could scarcely afford

He understood ive anything to taste one of the cherry tarts they used to share—let alone feel the warar’s Hole, days blended into weeks, and as time went on, he feltany little scraps of praise froht in for the day to help line his pockets

He’d been indebted to hi one day when he finally caer drea an honest wage, having a warm bed of his own to climb into at the end of a day A place where he didn’t worry about his safety and grief didn’t overwhelm him

His gaze darted across the cobblestone street to Ashwood, another of Gladstone’s lads, and his cheeks heated Sometimes Ashas the only reason Bellamy had to smile or look forward to the day

As Ashwood leaned against a building, Bellaer Gladstone liked it that way—liked them more disheveled—since it gar’s Hole But Bellamy secretly liked it too because there was ether to stay warhts weren’t nearly as dreary when Ashas in close proximity

Ashwood appeared unassuentlehtened, then stepped directly into his path One ht not catch it if they blinked, but Ashwood had already pilfered the gentleman’s watch or perhaps some loose coins from his coat He’d becoenerously with e the treasures for himself, of course

Bellaentle like, “Pardon me, I didn’t see you there”

Sometimes Ashould only take one of the coins, then pretend the gentleman had dropped the rest Other times, like now, he would slink off into the alleyith his treasure and tuck it away

The gentleman scowled at Ashwood’s back as if he were the same as the filth on the bottohtened But that saer at the unfairness of it all souilt about what they did It was a means to survival, and he could berate himself for it later Some way, somehow, he would redeem himself in this life, but first, he needed to become an adult Until then, he was too vulnerable and wouldn’t be taken seriously by most in society