Chapter 24: Alive

I untied the cord with fingers that did not feel like mine.

The paper was one folded sheet, creased soft.

I unfolded it against my palm.

His writing slanted hard to the right, the way it always had, and some of the letters had been pressed through the page.

Elora,

I am in a bunkhouse north of Lolo, cutting wood.

I am not writing to be forgiven.

I am writing because the grove is yours and Lyra's.

Nothing in it is owed to me.

I will not come for Lyra, and I will not ask to see her.

If you ever want me to, send word by the young Alpha.

I will walk as far as the creek and stop there.

If you never send, I understand.

You were right at the tree.

I had a whole minute.

Dorian

I read it twice.

Kellan stood at my shoulder and did not read over it.

He only waited, with his hand light on my back, and I felt in the bond how carefully he was holding still.

"Do you want it?" he asked quietly.

"No."

"Do you want to answer it?"

I looked at the last two lines for a long time.

Then I turned to the young Alpha, who stood at the edge of the clearing with a lantern in his hand.

"May I?"

He crossed the snow and held it out.

I lifted the corner of the page to the little flame, and the paper caught.

It burned from the edge inward, brown and then orange, and I held it until it licked my fingers.

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