The mate rejection hurt more than I had imagined.
I made it less than 100 yards before my knees gave out in the snow.
It felt as though a hand had plunged into my chest and torn away the part of me bound to Darian.
For 3 years, even without a complete Moonmark, I could still sense him at night.
When he was angry, my blood would burn.
When he returned from the border, I would wake before the sentry horns sounded.
Now there was nothing where his presence had once been.
Only a raw, aching void remained.
The silver-robed Council witness caught me before I collapsed.
"The rejection is now in effect. Once you pass the next outpost, Ravenridge will no longer have authority over you."
Alarm bells suddenly rang from the direction of Ravenridge.
A moment later, every border comm stone lit
