Blackfeather Woods You can repent but I warn you,

One of Damien's?

He nodded. I was, he said first, growing quiet at her demand that he prove himself useful and loyal. He couldn't blame her for placing stipulations on his joining; it's what he would have requested had their roles been reversed.

He coughed as she continued to speak, the motion sending jolts of searing pain up both sides of his chest. He kept his face a blank mask despite the hurting, unwilling to give away just how much pain he was in. I got caught under falling rocks, he said through his wheezing. While I was trapped, a voice told me I needed to be here, he continued. So I dug myself out and walked three days to get here. His cold gaze met hers. So I will do whatever you need.