Verity's POV

Dawn arrived too quickly.

I had barely slept, my mind spinning with the thought of what I was about to do. Leaving. Actually leaving Shadowfang, the one place that had finally felt like sanctuary after years of cages and darkness.

But Caleb was right. I needed this. I needed to breathe, to exist without the constant pressure of kingdoms and politics and destiny crushing down on me.

Still, that didn't make saying goodbye any easier.

I found Kin in the training yard, already ...