If she was going down, she was going to do it one way and one way alone. Gloriously.

From close inspection, she noted the doors were locked with fingerprint scans. Every single one of them. She scratched her head. Well, then, she would have to cut someone’s finger off.

She’d go along with being a cadet for now, until they’d all forgotten about the Blood Wolf within their ranks. Once their defenses were down, only then would she flash her teeth.

When a Blood Wolf has its teeth out, it doesn’t take much to make it snap.

Hands up.” The voice was low, male, and carried a smoothness to the syllables. “I’ve always wanted to say that.

War was an awful thing. It left an impression on her cells, soured the blood flowing through her veins, leaving a rotten stench inside her that only she could smell. She didn’t want to admit it was guilt, but it was, festering forever in her core.

Who’d have thought that I’d have the Blood Wolf of the Skies as my personal bodyguard?' she said. 'You’re lucky I’ll do it for free. My rate’s pretty steep.' Ia smiled smugly.

But you’re one of the most talented young men I know.''Well, you don’t know that many then.

He loved the idea of paper, how the ink would fade and the paper would age. So finite, he would explain, just like life.

She searched through the dark for Brinn’s face, expecting a warm welcome. A hug, a hello. Anything. Footsteps stomped toward her, followed by the sting of a palm against her face. All right, that worked too.