Mikael could hear the trickle of water close by. He followed the sound until he came across a stream. He knelt and drank gratefully, then peeled away the bloodstained bandages around his stomach. Mikael cupped more water in his hands and cleaned the wounds. He hissed as the icy water splashed against his skin.

Most of the wounds had ceased bleeding, but they were all tender to the touch. Exhaustion weighed heavily on his mind. He lifted his head and almost wept with relief. There was a cave just up ahead. He picked himself up and stumbled towards it.

The closer he got, the stronger the scent of blood became. Mikael narrowed his eyes warily. He poked his head through the cave entrance. An Illyrian male lay on the ground near a smoldering fire. He didn't move. A dark pool lay beneath him. Judging from the look of the male, he'd been lying there several hours at least. Whatever had killed him was long gone.

Mikael set his wolf skin aside and grabbed the male's ankles. He dragged the corpse out of the cave and deposited it a good distance away. Mikael broke a branch off a tree and began smearing leaves and dirt over the blood trail he'd left behind. He hoped the strong scent of the spruce branch would help mask the blood.

Mikael gathered a few more branches before he reached the cave. He entered and spread them over the blood puddle. Their fresh scent pushed through the reek of blood and fear that hung in the cave. There was something almost familiar about the scents, but he couldn't figure out what. Mikael stoked the fire a little more, bringing it back to life.

He pulled his leather shirt off and unbound the makeshift bandages again. Mikael scooped up some sap with his fingers and smeared it over his larger injuries. He restored the bloody wraps once he'd finished, then set to work making some new weapons.

Using a few spare strips of fabric from his old shirt, a thin piece of wood, and a mixture of dirt and tree sap, Mikael fashioned his wolf claws into a weapon of sorts. He tied the device to the underside of his hand and clenched it into a fist. The claws extended in between his fingers.

I'll have to work out how to form my fists around them so I don't accidentally impale myself, but these should come in handy, Mikael thought.

He jerked his head up as footsteps approached. A female Illyrian appeared in the cave entrance. Mikael's heart skipped a beat, even before he realized that she was not Estelle. The female raised her hands.

"I'm not here to fight," she said. Her voice was quiet and stern. "I just need shelter overnight."

Mikael studied her intently. He saw sincerity shining in her hazel eyes. "You won't kill me while I sleep, will you?"

"We aren't all assholes," she scoffed, sitting down across from him. "You're Thesan's son?"

"Yes." Mikael leaned his head back against the wall, closing his eyes.

"What happened to you?"

"Wolf."

"Did you kill that male I found outside?"

"No, he was here when I arrived. There's a clotted puddle of his blood beneath those branches." Mikael gestured towards them. The female didn't move. She tucked black hair behind her ear and rested her chin on her knees. "You're the first female I've seen since the Rite began." Wariness filled her eyes. Mikael bit his lip. "I'm sorry. I could've phrased that better. I meant..."

"I know what you meant," she interrupted. "I'm from Ridgeback. My warlord agrees with most of Rhysand's reforms. I was one of the lucky females chosen to enter the Rite this year."

"I've been training at Windhaven."

"I heard about that new plan to trade Peregryns and Illyrians around. I haven't been selected to go to the Dawn Court yet."

"I'm sure you will be soon." Mikael knit his brows in thought. Estelle has been juggling Illyrians from each of the different war camps. I've only had to deal with one set of Peregryns.

"You're mated?" The female asked, drawing in a deep breath. Mikael nodded. "To the Spymaster's daughter, if the rumors are to be believed."

"Yes, Estelle is my mate."

The female hesitated, then said, "People say she's traveling along a stream. The one we're beside, in fact. I don't know her exact location though."

Mikael straightened, a grin spreading across his lips. Estelle was following the stream! He was finally on her trail! "Thank you," he said. "What's your name?"

"Morai."

"Mikael."

Morai inclined her head. "I'm going to get some sleep. I won't kill you if you don't kill me."

"Don't steal from me and I won't steal from you."

"A truce then. For tonight."

Mikael nodded and Morai curled up on the ground near the fire. He bundled his wolf skin beneath his head and closed his eyes. Estelle was close. Perhaps he'd be able to find her soon. His heart swelled at the thought. She was alive. She was all right. He would find her. He was going to find her.

◦═══✦═══◦

Evening gave way to dawn and Estelle was exhausted. She hadn't found a new place to camp after the attack last night, so she chose to keep hiking. Her progress was slow. She kept tripping over tree roots, rocks, and her own feet.

She was drawing close to the treeline, she knew. The trees were growing thinner with every step she took. The air was even colder up here. She wouldn't be surprised if it snowed during the night. Snow in the mountains wasn't uncommon during early spring.

Estelle cried out as her foot snagged on a small divot in the ground. She crashed to her knees painfully. Tears welled up in her eyes. Estelle fought them back, laying down on the cold stone. Pain thudded through her ankle. She didn't look at it. She didn't think it was broken, but even a sprain would set her back.

Estelle clung to the Bond, wishing for the thousandth time that Mikael would reach out to her. She had heard and felt nothing from him since they arrived. She reached for her necklaces, then paused. She could only feel one. Estelle sat up and pulled her remaining necklace out from beneath her leathers. It was her necklace from Mikael. Where was her family pendant?

She looked back the way she'd come and almost sobbed aloud. She'd lost her pendant. She didn't have time to go back and look for it, but... Estelle drew her knees up to her chest, tears running down her cheeks. She felt her ankle gingerly. It wasn't broken. Estelle managed to stand. She put her weight on the ankle and nearly collapsed again. Sprained. It was most certainly sprained.

Estelle wiped her tears away, but more fell in their place. She'd lost her pendant. She'd sprained her ankle. She couldn't find her mate. She doubted she would even make it to the summit of Ramiel before the Rite ended. She had been dragged into this and she wasn't even going to become a Carynthian warrior!

She dug her nails into her palms, the pain slightly grounding her. Estelle closed her eyes, drawing in deep soothing breaths. No, I can still do this, she thought. I have to. I will find Mikael and I will make it to the summit. My pendant... It's gone. I can't waste time looking for it.

She limped onward. The pain in her ankle grew sharper, and the ashwood chains ground into her wings. Estelle felt around them and winced. They were wet with blood. The chains had bitten into her wings completely. That wasn't good.

Wings flapped overhead. Dust swirled as Ze'ev landed. A few of his undead creations appeared around him. Estelle refused to acknowledge them. She kept hobbling alongside the stream.

"I had considered letting you reach the summit before killing you," Ze'ev said. "It would make your demise that much sweeter. You would have been so close, and yet so far from achieving your dream."

Estelle didn't answer. Ze'ev fell in step beside her, breath rattling in his lungs. "Your mate is looking for you. I've been keeping an eye on him. I plan on killing him just as soon as I've dealt with you."

"You saved my life last night only to kill me anyway?"

"Of course. I'm the only person alive with the right to take your life. You stole everything from me."

"You kidnapped and raped me. You tortured my father. Everything I did was justly deserved. I'm only sorry you escaped before I could kill you too." Ze'ev coughed and Estelle saw blood spatter on the ground. "Whatever you're doing...it's killing you."

"I've never felt more alive," Ze'ev chuckled. "You have no idea what power you're truly capable of. I'm going to kill you before you ever find out."

"You're destroying yourself just so you can kill me?"

"No. You're simply one item on my agenda." Ze'ev flashed her a cruel grin. "We'll meet again very soon. For now, have fun with my pets." Ze'ev took off and Estelle whirled as his creations lunged at her.

She drew her knives and ducked beneath their outstretched arms. How do I kill something that's already dead? She wondered. Estelle rolled again, slashing her knives at their ankles. Her own injured one throbbed as she jumped to her feet.

One of the males leaped onto her. Estelle hit the ground hard. The ashwood chains splintered into her wings and she howled with pain. She drove her knife into the male's eye. He showed no reaction. Sharp nails dug into her skin.

Estelle screamed, trying to fight the male off. Jagged teeth clamped down on her leg. She writhed and stabbed at the male again and again. Estelle rammed her knees up. She flailed her arms and struggled, but to no avail. The creatures tore at her flesh and blood dripped from the wounds.

◦═══✦═══◦

Mikael had been following the stream most of the day, searching for Estelle. Morai was gone when he woke, but she hadn't stolen anything from him, holding to their truce. Umbra tightened around his arm, pulling him forward suddenly. Mikael tilted his head, spying a glittering object on the ground ahead.

He paused and picked it up. His eyes widened in fear. It was Estelle's pendant. It was stained by blood. Mikael began running. She had to be close if her pendant was here. A distant scream filled the air. Mikael ran faster, adrenaline flooding his veins.

The scream was louder now, and all too familiar. "Estelle!" Mikael yelled.

He burst upon a terrible scene. Estelle was trapped beneath two of the undead males. Blood stained her body as the creatures tore into her. She was stabbing one of them, sobbing and screaming all the while.

Fury ignited in his stomach and Mikael lunged. He tackled one of the creatures away from Estelle and slashed at it with the wolf claws extending from his fists. He shredded its face into bloody ribbons. He ripped its throat into pieces. He dug at its chest until he uncovered a black heart. Mikael grabbed the organ and ripped it free from the creature. The male went limp at once.

Mikael rounded on the other male. Estelle had managed to fight him off, but she was trembling on the ground. Mikael stabbed the second male through the heart and twisted. He too collapsed. Mikael knelt beside Estelle, panic overwhelming him. She stared past him, tears running down her cheeks. He didn't think she even recognized him.

"Estelle." Mikael pulled her upright and shook her. "Estelle!" Her gaze slid to his. She sobbed even harder. Mikael pulled her against his chest and held her tightly, shaking just as badly as her. "I'm here. I'm here, Batsy. I'm here. I'm here." He needed to examine her wounds as soon as possible, and wrap them before she bled out.

"Mikael?" Estelle rasped, her voice choked with sobs. She clung to him weakly as he lifted her.

"I'm here, Batsy," he replied soothingly. "I'm here. It's me. It's me, Love."

There appeared to be another cave close by. Mikael started towards it, hurrying as Estelle's sobs ceased and she fell limp. Her face was ashen and twisted in pain, even while unconscious. Mikael entered the cave, scenting no animals, and set her down quickly. He unbuckled her leathers and pulled them down far enough so he could see her injuries. Mikael unbound his own makeshift bandages and set to work.