I don’t sleep after training.
I sit on floor nest, knife under pillow, door closed all the way. No crack. I listen to hall. No chair creak. No footsteps.
Is he still out there? Or did my closed door tell him to leave?
He left, Lyra says. She sounds smug. He paces downstairs. Obsidian whines. Wants to be close.
How do you know?
I feel him. Old wolf knows old wolf.
Great. Now my wolf spies for me.
I get up. Walk to closet. Iron door is still dark, closed. But the shackles on sill catch light.
Rhea’s words sit in my head like stones.
He’ll mark you in your sleep. That’s how first King did it.
I know Caelan wouldn’t. I think I know. But first King also said he would wait. Right?
I open main door a crack.
Hall empty. Chair empty.
He really left.
My chest does something weird. Disa
