Chapter 2

Rhea

The palace gates were still opening when I burst through them in full wolf form, my transformation complete before the guards could process what they were seeing. One moment I was Rhea Winterbourne in a torn silk gown, and the next I was a golden blur of fur and desperation, my paws hitting cobblestones with enough force to send sparks flying.

Run or die, my wolf snarled. Those are the only choices left.

Behind me, Tyrant's roar shattered the night. "GUARDS! SEAL THE FOREST ROADS! NO ONE LEAVES IRONFANG TERRITORY!"

The incomplete mark on my neck burned like molten silver, sending fresh blood streaming down my shoulder to mat in my golden fur. Every heartbeat left a trail any tracker could follow with their eyes closed, but I didn't slow down. The forest loomed ahead and I threw myself toward it, muscles screaming in protest as I crashed through the palace gardens and into the tree line.

Branches whipped across my face. Thorns tore at my fur. Behind me, hunting howls split the night—deep, coordinated calls that spoke of wolves who'd done this before, who knew exactly how to herd prey into a killing ground.

The border is east, my wolf insisted. If we reach Winterbourne territory, Father's wards will stop them.

But east meant crossing the entire forest, and I had no idea how far I could run before my body gave out. A stream cut across my path and I leaped without thinking, my front paws hitting the opposite bank but my back legs slipping on wet stone. For one heart-stopping moment I hung suspended over churning water before my claws found purchase and I dragged myself up, gasping but still moving, still alive, still free.

The hunting howls grew closer. They were spreading out, forming a net designed to drive me away from the border and back toward the palace.

Alex, I thought desperately, reaching for the blood-bond that connected all Winterbourne wolves. The mind-link was there but faint, stretched thin by distance. I gathered what remained of my strength and pushed. Alex! Help me! I'm in the border forest east of Ironfang! He tried to force the mark! He's hunting me! ALEX, PLEASE—

My front paw came down on something that gave way with a snap. Pain exploded up my leg as rusted iron teeth clamped shut just above my pad—a hunter's trap hidden under leaves. I yelped and wrenched my paw free, blood welling up immediately, adding another injury that would slow me down.

Rhea! The response came like a thunderclap inside my skull. What happened? I heard you! We're coming! Give me your position!

Relief flooded through me. Alex. My brother was coming.

East of the palace, I gasped mentally, still running even though each step sent agony shooting up my injured leg. There's a stream—I crossed it—and I can see a huge oak with lightning damage ahead, and beyond that— I broke off as the ground suddenly dropped away, revealing a cliff edge that plunged down into darkness and jagged rocks below.

I know where you are! Alex's presence was like an anchor. There's a cave system near those cliffs—if you can reach it, hide inside and we'll find you! Can you make it?

I looked back and saw torches through the trees, heard voices calling coordinates. They were close. Too close. And I could smell him now—that distinctive scent of cedar and smoke that made the incomplete mark burn with renewed intensity. Tyrant himself had joined the hunt.

I don't know. I'm bleeding, I can barely walk, and they're everywhere—

You will make it, Alex commanded, and the Alpha authority in his tone was so absolute that my wolf straightened despite her exhaustion. You're a Winterbourne, Rhea. You carry the Moon Goddess's own blood. These Ironfang dogs can't touch you if you don't let them. Now RUN.

I ran.

The cave entrance appeared like a miracle—a dark slash in the hillside half-hidden by hanging vines. I threw myself at the opening and wriggled inside, ignoring the way rough stone scraped against my injured shoulder. The cave opened into a chamber just large enough for me to transform back to human form, and I shifted immediately, knowing I'd need hands to tend my wounds.

The change left me gasping and naked on cold stone, and for a long moment I could do nothing but shake and try not to vomit from the pain radiating from my neck, my injured leg, and shoulder. I tore a strip from my ruined gown and wrapped it around my neck, pressing hard against the incomplete mark even though the touch sent agony lancing through me. The cloth soaked through immediately, growing heavy and warm against my skin.

Outside, I heard them spreading out, searching. Boots crunching on leaves, voices calling to each other, and underneath it all the sound of wolves sniffing and circling.

"Check every hollow! Every cave! The bitch can't have gone far—she's bleeding out!"

Alex, I reached out through the mind-link. I'm in the cave but they're right outside. I can hear them. I can't fight them all—

You won't have to, he shot back. Caspian is with me. Hold on, Rhea. Just hold on.

I pressed myself against the back wall, trying to control my ragged breathing. My whole body shook with exhaustion and shock and the creeping cold that came from blood loss.

A wolf's nose appeared at the cave entrance, sniffing loudly. I held my breath until my lungs burned. The wolf withdrew, and I heard it shift back to human form.

"Nothing in this one, sir!"

"Check the back. She's clever. Probably thinks she can hide in the dark."

No. Please, no.

The guard shifted back to wolf form and pushed into the cave. I could hear his claws clicking on stone as he advanced, could smell his excitement at the hunt.

Alex, I'm sorry. I tried—

RHEA, MOVE!

The command hit me like a physical blow and I scrambled sideways just as the guard's jaws snapped shut where my head had been a second before. I was already shifting, my wolf bursting free with pure survival instinct, and I went for his throat because I had no other choice. My teeth found purchase in the soft flesh under his jaw and I bit down hard. He thrashed beneath me, his howls echoing off the cave walls and summoning every other hunter.

Out. Get out NOW.

I released him and bolted for the entrance, exploding out of the cave just as more guards converged. My injured paw nearly gave out but I forced myself to keep moving, to run even though my vision swam with black spots.

"THERE! GET HER!"

I ran toward the cliff edge because there was nowhere else to go, the guards closing in from three sides and the sheer drop the only direction still open. Ten feet from the edge I could see the rocks below, jagged and hungry.

Rhea, what are you doing? Alex's voice was sharp with alarm. Don't you dare—

I'm sorry, I told him, and jumped.