The vine burned my palms. Pebbles kept ticking past my boots and vanished into the dark. Above me, Albert's shadow leaned over the rim, bored and ready to leave.
“Wait," I called up, breath breaking. “Do you want a deal?"
He gave a small laugh. “You? Hanging there with bloody hands?"
“Yes," I said. “Me."
Silence stretched. Wind ran a cold finger along the cliff face. At last his boots scraped closer.
“What kind of deal?" he asked.
“I help you take Taylor's place," I said. “You help me live."
Albert snorted. “I don't want his chair. I don't want a council room. I don't want obligations. I hunt where I like and sleep where I like. Alpha is a cage with nicer locks."
“You're lying to yourself," I said. “You don't want the chair. You want the truth paid back."
“About what?"
“Your fath
