Chapters (46)
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Dedication
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-one
- Twenty-two
- Twenty-three
- Twenty-four
- Twenty-five
- Twenty-six
- Twenty-seven
- Twenty-eight
- Twenty-nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-one
- Thirty-two
- Thirty-three
- Thirty-four
- Thirty-five
- Thirty-six
- Thirty-seven
- Thirty-eight
- Thirty-nine
- Forty
- Epilogue
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
Pashla looked at her long and hard, and Kyra finally saw it—the hurt and betrayal in the woman’s eyes. The emotions she had hidden behind a mask of calm. “You’ve made your choice, then. You prefer the humans.”
“I grew up with them. It’s all I’ve known.” She wanted to continue, but stopped at the expression on Pashla’s face. She might as well have tried to explain to Pashla that she wanted to live with chickens.
The clanswoman stepped away, pulling at the belt of her tunic to change back. Kyra felt a wrenching in her chest.
“Wait,” she said. “At least give my love to the kittens. I didn’t get a chance to say good-bye.”
Pashla stopped and sighed, eyes finally softening. “That I will do. You have my word.” The clanswoman clasped Kyra’s hands. “We will meet again. I’m sure of it.”
Yes, and I hope it will be on better terms, Kyra thought.
She watched as Pashla transformed and rejoined the others. The three cats disappeared into the forest.
Forty
F O R T Y
Tristam was the first to break the silence. “Come. We’ll camp tonight away from the road and approach the Palace tomorrow.”
Setting up camp was an uncomfortable process. Czern, the Demon Rider who’d stayed to guard James, was aloof and taciturn. He barely spoke, and he changed into cat shape after securing James to a tree, clearly uninterested in helping Kyra or Tristam with their preparations. Kyra helped Tristam gather sticks for a fire, all the while aware of James’s eyes on her. Czern wandered off briefly and returned with two rabbits, which they cooked for supper.
As the sky darkened, Kyra slipped away from the fire into the surrounding shadows. The stars were more visible here than in the city, and she leaned against a tree, staring up at them through holes left by fallen leaves. Was she making a mistake? This plan could end with her back in the dungeons, but she had to try.
She heard footsteps behind her. And though she’d come out here hoping for solitude, her mood lifted when she saw it was Tristam. He still walked as if it pained him, but he’d regained some color and his eyes were clear.
“Sneaking off?” he asked.
“I needed to clear my head.”
“I thought the open forest made you uncomfortable.”
“It’s better at night.”
He was quiet, and she could imagine the thoughts turning around in his head. He spoke hesitantly. “Is that because—”
“Probably.” She wondered if this was how it would be from now on. Every time she displayed some new character quirk, she would wonder if it came from her Makvani blood.