Ferrah I didn’t understand how this room was so cold. Was it intentional? Did they cut off the heat to this room for fear that someone would escape through the vents?I was sitting on the cot with my arms around myself in an attempt to retain some warmth. It had only gotten colder since I woke up and it made it impossible to get back to sleep. That was probably for the best. I had no idea how long it was going to take for the Alpha King to return for me. He said that he would be back, but I had no idea what arrangements he was making or how long it would take. I may have made a mistake by asking him to let me out of this dungeon. What other realistic option did he have? Was I going to be forced to stay by his side at all times? The thought made me feel sick. The pull in my chest was at war with my hatred for him and the effect was a feeling of slight nausea that I couldn’t shake off. It only got worse when he was close to me. I didn’t think I could handle that for any extended

FerrahI followed a step behind the Alpha King as he led me through the village. I had assumed that the elders would come to him, but it appeared that wasn’t the case. I had been trying to avoid being paraded through the village like some kind of exotic pet. I could feel eyes on me from every direction and it made me extremely self conscious. I wrapped my arms around myself as we walked through the cobblestone streets. The area of the village we were walking through was a bustling business district. There were people chatting on the sidewalks and sipping coffee outside of cafes and bistros. There were outdoor stalls selling baked goods and fresh produce. I even spotted one young girl selling lemonade. I was envious, honestly. We didn’t have any towns like this left in the witch world. They had all been destroyed. It made my stomach twist in disgust to know that the shifters could still enjoy a life like this. I averted my eyes and focused on my threadbare shoes. I didn’t wan

Ferrah“Don’t be too hasty,” Gilliam said sternly. “I’m not convinced that this witch is anything more than a poorly disguised spy.” I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “Disguised as what?” I asked in disbelief. “A prisoner?” “She’s hardly tried to hide her identity,” one of the other elders chimed in. He was a broad shouldered man with a shaved head and a graying beard. “She attacked Onyx. That’s not exactly keeping a low profile.” “I agree,” Priestess Adelaide echoed. “I’m not convinced. It’s going to take more than a flimsy story like that to earn my trust.” Gilliam’s frown deepened. “For all we know, she was creating a distraction to allow her companions to enter the village.” “We would know if there were witches in the village,” another elder noted. “Our defenses aren’t that easily thwarted.” “They wouldn’t be able to use their magic, even if they did make it past the guards,” a fourth pointed out. “I don’t know what her plan is, but I know that she must have one,” Gil

FerrahIt took me hours to calm my nerves after the meeting with the elders. That bastard Gilliam had crossed the line, and I had wanted nothing more than to punch him square in the nose. That wasn’t what had me so worked up, though. It was Onyx. It was the way that he had defended me. He had been so attentive to my mood during the entire meeting and had stepped in to comfort and soothe me in ways that were so subtle that I didn’t fully appreciate them until I was back in this prison of a room with nothing to do but reflect. It bothered me immensely that he had done that for me, but it bothered me more that I had been so reliant on him. It had seemed so natural in the moment for us to behave the way we did. I hated myself for it. I had to remember that he was the enemy. No amount of kindness now could undo what had been done. Once the bell was rung, it couldn’t be unrung, as my grandmother always said. I cupped my chin in my hand and leaned against the windowsill. The su

FerrahI stared at the band around my wrist in silent astonishment. I never would have expected Onyx to think of something so clever. Making his anti-magic wards into a shackle was impressive enough, but he did it in a way that wouldn’t compromise the freedom of movement that he had promised me. “What do you mean?” I asked. I tore my eyes away from the iron and looked at him questioningly. I should probably be angry, but I was too surprised. “Think of it as insurance,” he answered. “I had this band made to make sure that you can’t use magic in pack territory. I have the only key, so in a way, it’s personal insurance as well.” I let his words sink in before speaking again. “You know that the threats on my life were working just fine, right?” “Were they?” he asked curiously. “Have I done any magic since I got here?” I shot back in irritation. He shrugged and the ghost of a smirk crept into his expression. My own expression froze in response. Did he somehow know about t