Page 110 of Song of the Dark Wood

“You’re wearing red,” Cade noted.

“Yes,” Rowan said, failing to keep her tears at bay.

“Do you feel okay?”

“Yes. Just exhausted.”

Cade only nodded in response.

“Thank you for coming to get me.”

“Of course,” he said. “You’re my best friend.”

“How did you know I needed you?” Rowan asked.

“I told you before that I can feel when the Dark Wood shifts. All demons can.”

“It’s no less creepy hearing it a second time,” she sighed.

He grunted. “What happened?”

“I told a lie that only I ended up believing,” she whispered.

“Row, for what it’s worth, I’m sorry that it was a bad experience,” Cade said.

“That’s the problem,” she rasped. “It wasn’t.”

“I take it you didn’t succeed in killing him?”

Icy shock tore through Rowan. She stopped walking. She hadn’t told anyone about her deal with the Mother for fear that the Wolf would somehow find out. There was only one way Cade could know.

The revelation rended her from the one friend she’d had her whole life. She was well and truly alone.

Cade’s eyes went wide as he realized he’d tipped his hand.

She yanked her arm away from him and stumbled backward, nearly to the edge of the protected trail. Maybe staying on the trail meant the Mother’s magic would protect her body, but it did nothing to protect her heart.

“Rowan, be careful!” Cade called.

“How do you know I was supposed to kill the Wolf?”

“Row—”

“How?” she screamed. “You don’t know from me. Which means—” She brought her hand to her heart. It felt like her chest was caving in. “No.” It was barely audible, the word lost with the air that punched out of her lungs.

Cade stared down at the snow in shame. The only one who knew her mission was the Mother herself.

“What did she promise you? Why would you help her?” Rowan asked.

Cade ran a hand through his hair. “Demons aren’t the only ones who make deals, Rowan. I used to work for the other side, you know. I used to be one of the good guys. I made one mistake. That was all it took. One mistake for a lifetime of darkness. She said if I kept an eye on you, pushed you in the right direction, I could get back what I’d lost.”

The icy burn of cold air in her lungs was the only thing keeping Rowan anchored to her body. She half-believed she was still asleep and trapped inside a nightmare. She pinched herself on the off chance she might wake up.

“How long?” she asked.

Cade winced like it hurt to confess. “She’s a planner, Row. She likes to have contingencies. She knows how to play a long game.”

“How long?” Rowan shouted.

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