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Back The Ones We Burn Save as PDF
Chapters (93)
  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Dedication
  4. Part One: Skra: Sixty Days Remain
  5. PART ONE SKRA SIXTY DAYS REMAIN
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4 Two weeks later
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. Part Two: Monster: Twenty-Five Days Remain
  25. PART TWO MONSTER TWENTY-FIVE DAYS REMAIN
  26. 19
  27. 20
  28. 21
  29. 22
  30. 23
  31. 24
  32. 25
  33. 26
  34. 27
  35. 28
  36. 29
  37. 30
  38. 31
  39. Part Three: Butcher: Six Days Remain
  40. PART THREE BUTCHER SIX DAYS REMAIN
  41. 32
  42. 33
  43. 34
  44. 35
  45. 36
  46. 37
  47. 38
  48. 39
  49. 40
  50. 41
  51. 42
  52. 43
  53. 44
  54. 45
  55. 46
  56. 47
  57. 48
  58. 49
  59. 50
  60. 51
  61. 52
  62. 53
  63. Part Four: Bloodwinn: Coup Successful
  64. PART FOUR BLOODWINN COUP SUCCESSFUL
  65. 54
  66. 55
  67. 56
  68. 57
  69. 58
  70. 59
  71. 60
  72. 61
  73. 62
  74. 63
  75. 64
  76. 65
  77. 66
  78. 67
  79. 68
  80. 69
  81. 70
  82. 71
  83. 72
  84. 73
  85. 74
  86. 75
  87. 76
  88. 77
  89. 78
  90. 79
  91. 80 EPILOGUE Three months later
  92. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  93. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

“To shield,” he corrected. “That is my job, Ranka. To be their shield, their knife in the dark. Stain my soul, to keep theirs clean. If I do my job right—because by the Goddess, they’re our best hope, and this country is worth it, though you may not be inclined to agree—history will forget me, but it won’t forget them.” Foldrey steepled his fingers together, and all his warmth vanished. For the first time she saw him for who he was: a man who loved the twins he served, yes, but a soldier first.

Ranka had become a killer to survive. Foldrey Wolfe had trained to be one by choice.

“I will not let anything jeopardize those twins or the future they represent,” Foldrey said. “Do you understand me, child?”

“Perfectly,” Ranka whispered.

“You’re a smart girl, Ranka,” Foldrey said softly. “What you lack in social skills and political tact, you make up for in sheer survival instincts, that much is clear. You may not be built for court politics—but you know when to pick a fight, and when to back down. I trust those instincts to protect you. You have it in you to make the right choice. I see it, even if you can’t.”

Outside, Moira’s shrill laughter rang in the air as she played with one of the guards. A sunbeam filtered through the window, catching dust motes as they danced over Foldrey’s desk.

“I hope I’m wrong about you,” Foldrey admitted. There was real regret in his eyes. “I hope I’m just a paranoid old man and I’ve just made a terrible mistake, terrifying an innocent bride over nothing. I hope I’ve misread everything, truly.” He tipped his empty glass in her direction, his smile strained and sad. “But I wouldn’t have the job I do if I made a habit of being wrong.”

Ranka’s throat was completely dry. She didn’t dare speak. Didn’t dare breathe.

He leaned back with a tired smile, and the tense air evaporated. “Forgive me, I’ve taken enough of your time already. Enjoy your day.”

She couldn’t get up fast enough. Ranka beelined toward the door, trying to keep her heart calm.

“Ranka.”

She froze, her dread a stone in her throat. “Yes?”

“I followed Alus to war because I believed loyalty demanded it. It took me twenty years to learn no one is owed your loyalty. Someone worthy will earn it.” The chair creaked. “I pray you learn faster than I did.”

Finally, she turned to look at him—but he stared past her, lost in some memory only he could see. Ranka left his office in a hurry, the echo of flies buzzing in her ears long after she had left.

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