The arrow shuddered in the stone pillar—its black feathers twitching in the chill mountain wind. The little scrap of cloth tied to the shaft snapped and fluttered, a warning sign from death itself. For a few long heartbeats, Nyra and Kael didn’t move. The world seemed to shrink until the only thing left was the sound of their breathing.
Nyra realized, probably too late, how close they stood. Kael’s arm circled her waist, holding her behind him. She could feel his heart, slow and steady, right against her cheek. He kept calm, even with danger all around them.
She should have felt afraid. Anyone else would. But instead—she felt safe. The feeling startled her more than the assassin’s arrow ever could.
Kael’s eyes swept over the dark forest. Every part of him tightened, alert. Ready. Breath
