Three years after I fell from the Moon Rift, Blackthorn closed its gates in my face. I almost laughed. The walls looked smaller than I remembered. That was the first thing I noticed.

The second was the guard captain standing above the gatehouse, pretending not to recogn

The boy looked at me. I looked back. For three years, I had prepared for Blackthorn guards, Council challenges, Camille, Alaric, Lucian. I had not prepared for a three-year-old holding a wooden horse.

Mara stopped near the courtyard door. Her hand tightened around his. Luc

Leo sat on the edge of the long sofa with his wooden horse between both hands. I sat at the other end. Mara took the chair near the door. Lucian stayed outside.

He had asked if Leo wanted him in the room. Leo had said, "No. I want to ask her." Lucian had gone pale. Then he left a