Chapter 1

The end of the pain came quickly, the cold turning to a blazing heat in her chest. Something was wrong, even through the haze of poppy and foxglove painkillers. Maria Fotopoulou couldn’t feel her toes, let alone hear the wails of her newborn. Everything was too hot, stifling in the cabin with the fire roaring near her sweat soaked bed.

“It’s a girl!” Said the midwife, bringing the bundle closer to her hazy eyes. Maria fought to sit up, taking the wailing child from Roslyn, finally seeing the perfect baby for herself.

“Korynn.” She said on a whisper of a breath, the heat from her chest flowing down her arms, embracing the child who quieted. Roslyn’s hand flew to her mouth, her brown eyes wide with fear.

“She has the gift.” Maria nodded slowly, feeling more exhausted than before. Roslyn carefully took Korynn from her arms, biting her lip while the tears welled.

“You promised.” She forced past numb lips, trying to focus on the graying midwife. Maria would live, but her talents would be diminished, just like her mother before her. The price of female children, the next generation was more powerful than that before them.

“Couldn’t we—” Maria snarled, the last bit of her strength leaving her as she silenced Roslyn.

“She will be the king’s toy if she is left here. He will command her to kill like he does to me, then breed her for an even stronger—” Roslyn stepped forward, pulling her cloak about her, leaving only Korynn’s head exposed.

“I will do as you ask, my queen.” Maria lifted her hand, touching her forehead, her lips moving silently before touching Korynn. A slight spark snapped from her fingers to Korynn’s forehead, sucking the warmth from the room. The fire died to embers, the candles all blown out at once, leaving the room in a dim glow.

“Tell no one and return to me, so we may mourn together.” Roslyn bowed, covering the sleeping Korynn and disappearing out of a side chamber, leaving Maria to darkness and silence.

Sixteen Years Later

“Kory! Slow down!” It wasn’t the first time Tjorvi Styrkarsson had chased her down, nor would it be the last. He had been her keeper since they were children, before he could change. One by one all her friends had changed, but she was still Kory. Nameless child of the wind; her mind silent without that inner other.

Behind her she could hear him catching up, now on four paws instead of two feet. His frustration at not being as fast as her was comical, considering he was a good foot taller than she was. Kory had always been slight, shorter and better at remaining unseen than they were. Her first real task as an adult had been to travel to trade, being she didn’t intimidate the other villages around them.

Kory dodged left, around a tree as a tiger landed where she had been. The change of direction always threw him off, but Tjorvi was a patient hunter. He wouldn’t give up until she talked to him, even if they stayed out here until nightfall.

With a frustrated sigh, she slowed to a walk, lowering her hood on her cloak. Brushing her auburn braid over her shoulder, she waited until Tjorvi had caught up. He was panting, but most of it was for show. He stood to her shoulder, a good four feet and he wasn’t finished growing yet. Readjusting the straps on her pack, Kory laid a hand on his shoulder, keeping him from shifting back.