Chapter 21. Alone, but Not Unseen

June's POV

"He said alone," I said. "So I go alone."

It was barely dawn. The carving on the gatepost was still pale and raw, and I'd been standing in front of it for an hour while the outpost woke up around me.

Ronan stood beside me with a mug of Osric's coffee he hadn't touched.

"He said alone because he can smell anyone you bring," he said. "That's not the same as you being safe."

"He could have killed me a dozen times already. He walked up to our gate last night. He didn't come over it."

"I know."

"Then you know he wants to talk."

"I know he wants something." Ronan finally drank the coffee and made a face. "Whether talking is all of it, neither of us knows."

I turned to look at him. "Are you going to stop me?"

"No. I'm going to argue with you." He set the mug on the gatep