Page 29 of Too Dangerous To Die

The possessive growl ripples through me before I can stop it, and Ihate it.Hate the way they speak of her as if she isalready theirs.

As if I have no say.

"The magic she carries… it calls to us."

I alreadyknow that.

I knew it the moment I saw the silver light in her eyes, the way the Wastesresponded to her presence.She does not realize it yet, but her magic is shifting. Changing.

Becoming something the Wraithbornhave been waiting for.

"She will hear us soon,"the creature whispers.

I step closer, the earthcracking beneath my feet."If you come near her again, I will rip your bones from your cursed flesh."

A pause.

Then, there'slaughter.

A terrible, broken sound.

"You cannot stop what has already begun."

A gust of wind howls through the Wastes, and when it passes, the Wraithborn aregone.

The night swallows them whole, leaving behind only the scent of somethinglong buried and never forgotten.

I stand in the silence, my fists clenched, my breath slow and steady.

I do not turn back to the fireimmediately.I feel something close tofear.

Not for myself.

For her.

Nora’s eyes snap open the moment I return. She does not speak, but I cansee it.

She felt them.

She doesn’t understand it yet, but sheknows something is wrong.

"Go back to sleep," I tell her, keeping my voice even.

She hesitates. "Did you feel it?"

I do not answer because I cannot lie to her.

And if she hears the truth now, she willnot be able to run from it.So I turn away, folding my wings against my back, watching the fire as it flickerslower and lower.

"Sleep, Nora," I murmur.

She will needher strength.

Soon, she will hear them.

And once she does, there will beno turning back.

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