It was free of fray or knot and led me into the forest, lighting my way with its bright warmth.
I followed it with a light heart and the humming anticipation of finding something wonderful.
At last I came to the end of the rope and a blue-gray wolf with golden eyes.
"Hello, Adam," I told him.
"SHH," SAID ADAM SLEEPILY.
HE PULLED ME TIGHTER against him and rolled over the top of me as if that would make me be quiet.
"Sleep." My body was tired.
I was warm and safe.
A return to sleep should have come easily, especially since I'd awakened from such a good dream.
But it had reminded me of what it had felt like to be lost.
"I couldn't find you either," I told Adam, burrowing against him.
He was thinner than he'd been the last time I'd been in bed with him.
The fire had left no scars, and he kept his hair short anyway, but the ribs I could feel told me I had cost him.
"I quit trying," I admitted.
"I was so afraid she was going to use me to enthrall the whole pack.
I didn't understand that she couldn't do that, that she didn't have the power." I closed my eyes and let myself remember how terrified I had been.
I opened them again, almost immediately, needing to see him to feel safe.
"In that place, it felt like she had all the power to do anything." He was so still that I thought he might have gone back to sleep, until he spoke.
"She hurt you." It wasn't a question.
"She did." I wouldn't lie to him.
"But it was just pain, not real damage.
I knew you would come for me if I could just hold out." I let him hear the sureness of that in my voice.
He rolled over until I was on top of him.
His hands moved to my shoulders, and he gave me a little shake.
"Don't ever make me go through that again.
I couldn't bear it." "I won't," I promised him rashly.
"Never again." He laughed then, and hugged me tight.
"Didn't Bran teach you not to make promises you can't keep?" He sighed.
"I suppose if you won't shut up so I can sleep, I might as well find something to do with the time." When he was through, we both slept.
ADAM WENT WITH ME TO RETURN THE BOOK TO PHIN the next morning, an hour before the store opened.