Book 5: Alone

Amval

The curved blade of Yalim’s dagger gleams in the weak sunlight as he swallows and conjures a bead of ruby blood at the tip. I’ve never killed someone before, much less someone I’ve known as long as this now former palace guard.

But he’s left me very little choice.

“All right,” he rasps. “I’ll go.”

I withdraw the dagger but keep it in my bound hands. “Did you touch my mate?”

“No more than it took to pry her off you,” he says. “She didn’t even stir.”

Relief explodes through the throbbing mark on my throat, but I hold any sign of it tight in my chest. Yalim looks at me. I look at him.

“Do I have to tell you to go again?” I finally ask.

He turns greenish-pale and takes off into the trees. A few feet away, I hear the telltale rip of clothing. He’s shifted. Probably smart, with so many rogues in the area.

That’s another reason why I need to move quickly. With a single breath of relief, I kneel where he would have