“They’re scared of me.” I said quietly.
He sighed. “They’re scared of what they don’t understand.”
I stared out into the trees. “I don’t understand it either.”
He turned to face me. “That’s why we’ll learn together. You, me, Eryx, Arlo, Gage…all of us. We’ll figure it out before they come.”
“Before they kill me, you mean.”
“Before they try.” His voice was hard, steady. “And they will try, Trin. But they won’t win. Not while I’m breathing.”
I looked at him…really looked…and saw the truth in his eyes. He meant it. He always did.
I leaned into him, resting my head on his shoulder. The sound of the forest surrounded us. The soft rustle of leaves and the whisper of night creatures. For a moment, I wanted to believe that was enough.
But deep inside, the power in my blood pulsed faintly,
