My knees hit the ground with a hard crack, but I didn’t have time to cry as Phoebe dragged me across the snow-covered ground and into the forest ahead.

The embassy bordered both Nox and Rouke, but we were heading into Nox territory. We were heading into a part of the forest I heard dangerous stories about.

The dead night was cold. Snow was falling faster than my eye could see. The ground was icy and slick in places. I was stumbling behind Phoebe with every staggering ...