His scent woke me. The smell of incense and snow had filled the room as if he were standing over me.

Praxus? Was he here in the castle?

Walker, still asleep, turned on his back, exposing his chest.

Last night felt like a dream. Walker's hands, his lips, every time he touched me.

Someone was coming. Had practices smell grown stronger or was at the lingering traces of a dream

tickling the periphery of my waking mind.

I had to think.

I jumped to my feet, grabbed a brass candle holder from Walker's desk.

Vancer scanned the room.

Her eyes flicked over my bed, clearly uncelept in.

We need to leave now if we want to get to Towers Castle by sunrise.

Twenty minutes later, we were armed and fed. Grandma was waiting for us at Staples.

Ride fast and with purpose.

I will defend the defiance to my dying breath. He turned to me with

open arms we embraced. Remember who you are at Lassif.

I wanted to tell him I was terrified, that I'd made a mistake.

Instead, I nodded. And then the three of us rode off into the still black morning.

Starcrite, steady and dependable, closely followed Walker's horse.

Vancer rode behind, covering our backs.

We travelled in silence to the top of Ararat

when Walker stopped.

He turned to look behind us and my gaze followed his eyes.

...