Lyra
The surprise Caine had for me turned out to be a visit to a market called Shadewood—a hidden place that operated outside legal pack laws and council oversight.
The first thing I noticed when we arrived was the smell.
Pungent and bitter, it clung to the air, sharp and heavy.
When we reached the dock, Caine extended his hand to help me off the boat but I refused.
“Is this the market?” I asked, stepping onto uneven stones that looked ancient and strangely formed.
“Yes.” Caine fell into step beside me. Henry and the two other rogues who had come with us from the camp followed behind. “Welcome to Shadewood.”
“You still haven’t told me why we’re here?”
This barely looked like a surprise, I wanted to add. It wasn’t what I expected when he said he had one for me, and my stomach twiste
