Silvertip Mountain turnkey blood

she sucks in a breath, myriad questions entering her mind. how? why? what neighbors? it doesn't matter. before she can ask, Merrick speaks again, and she finds herself hot with anger, turning away, looking down, fur bristling at the spine.

no, she insists sharply, and it's true—but she's ashamed Merrick would even ask. he's asked, which means he thinks her the lesser. which means she'll never be able to return.

her nostrils flare, hard, and then she whirls upon the bear-king. i heh'ped him! she snaps, indigo eyes blazing hard as any fire that ever burned. whih' womanh. i 'lyoo'khed for her. i. . .waneh' 'oo khhhhill her. the penultimate word burst from her mouth, a not-quite-right syllable, guttural, but true.

you. . . pighck him, Avicus accused, staring at her father.