Title Page

Copyright Notice

The author and publisher have provided this ebook to you for your personal use only. You may not make this ebook publicly available in any way. Copyright infringement is against the law. If you believe the copy of this ebook you are reading infringes on the author’s copyright, please notify the publisher at: us.macmillanusa.com/piracy.

Dedication

To Erika, my first friend and biggest fan. I love that you’re cool talking about Permafrost at two in the morning.

To Katherine, who is one of the best people in my life. Your support, strength, and resilience inspire and empower me every day.

Epigraph

I was angry with my friend;

I told my wrath, my wrath did end.

I was angry with my foe:

I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I waterd it in fears,

Night & morning with my tears:

And I sunned it with smiles,

And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night.

Till it bore an apple bright.

And my foe beheld it shine,

And he knew that it was mine.

And into my garden stole,

When the night had veild the pole;

In the morning glad I see;

My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

—WILLIAM BLAKE,
“A POISON TREE”

Prologue

FEAR

THE STAG HAS never been afraid. Never had a reason to be afraid. He’s the lifebringer to the Permafrost; he is the reason the Permafrost exists. And even when he is hunted, he feels no fear, only the thrill of a challenge. That was how it had always been and would always be. Because those hunting him want his favor, not his flesh.

At least that is how it used to be.

Now he is stuck in the void that is time and space, death but not death.

He doesn’t blame the girl who took the mantle of his power, his abilities, away from him. In fact, he encouraged her, knowing well that he was dying and would not receive a second life.

But even in the void, he felt her desperately reach out to him, begging for his help. But the once-stag ignored it. She would have to figure it out on her own. No more did he exist on her level. She must learn to exist as he did. He fears she will never learn.

She has survived so much. A sadistic goblin who tried to destroy her body, the slow acceptance of another goblin in her life, the Hunt where she found much of what she missed about herself, and the brutal fights along the way. She is strong. She will continue to survive.

The once-stag hopes, at least. Because the towers of the worlds are falling down, and the current stag needs to be ready.

PART ONE

THE STAG

1

VISIONS