Chapter 5: Ashgrove Burns

Rowan was the first to break.

"Boat," he said. "Now."

Drew and Ellis were already running for the stairs.

Cade got up off his knees, shaking, and did not look at anyone.

Rowan turned back to me. His face had changed.

"Keira." He swallowed. "Please."

It was the first time I had ever heard that word from him.

"The nursery is in the pack house," he said. "Twenty children."

"Most of the fighters are on the north fence. If the rogues get over the wall, there's nobody."

"Then go," I said.

"Come with us."

"Your brother laid his hand on her," Lucan said, without turning his head. "The guard is void. That is the law of the paper, not mine."

Rowan's mouth twisted.

"So the Lycans stay on this rock and watch us burn."

"My host cannot march," Lucan said. "Not without breaking the oath your father swore."

The Beta stood against the wall with his hands over his face.

I looked at the mainland. The red light on the cliffs had spread.

Now there were two, and then four.

I thought of the old cook who left a wool coat on my doorstep every winter and never said a word about it.

I thought of the nursery women, who had never once been cruel.

I thought of twenty children who had never done anything to me.

I thought of my brothers, who had done everything.

I hated them. I still could not stand on a wall and let the children burn.

"Lucan," I said.

He looked down at me.

"Help me."

It was the first time in my life I had asked anyone for anything and meant it.

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