Chapter 4

The darkness pressed in around us like a living thing, hungry and patient. I couldn't tell if hours or days had passed since the guards had taken our torch, our food, and my precious herbs. All I knew was that Elara's breathing had grown shallow again, each tiny gasp tearing at my soul. Silver was dangerously weak after sharing her essence, her presence in my mind like a guttering candle.

'Stay with me,' I whispered to both my daughter and my wolf. 'Just a little longer.'

A sound—so faint I thought I'd imagined it—made me freeze. A whisper of movement,…