Lyla stood beneath the cold night sky at the edge of Blackwood territory.

The forest pressed against her senses cold and strained beneath the sharp bite of frost. The air was thin and tense, like the trees themselves were holding their breath.

Jonas stood at her left side, his dark gaze cutting toward the tree line. Eli stood at her right, his silver eyes narrowed and sharp. Dani crouched at the base of a fallen tree, her dagger spinning between her fingers.

Mason stood a few feet behind ...