Chapter 13 · Rust and Relic - Chapter 13: The Dead Boy Knows Her Father

"Little wolf."

The kid's voice is wrong. Too smooth. Too old.

Liv freezes halfway through wrapping his wrist. The campfire behind her spits sparks into the dark. Aiden's already on his feet, shard flaring pale green in his hand.

"What did you say?" Her voice comes out flat.

The boy's eyes are open now. Not fever-bright anymore. Just empty. His lips move again.

"Little wolf who hides her teeth."

No one's called her that since she was six. Since her father used to say it when she bit the other kids during spear drills.

"Who taught you that?" She grabs his jaw, forces him to look at her. His skin's cold. Too cold for someone who was burning an hour ago.

"Vald Bonewalker sends his regards."

Aiden swears behind her. Greta's already moving, kicking dirt over the fire, but Liv doesn't let go.

"Where is he?"

"Closer than you think." The kid's mouth twitches. Not a smile. Something piloting a smile. "He remembers your father. Remembers what he hid before the Ironthorn fell."

Her knife's at his throat before she decides to move it.

"Talk."

"Liv—" Aiden starts.

"Shut up." She doesn't look away from the kid.