Chapter 87

"Stay behind me," Thomas ordered, hauling me behind him up the steps to Margin's church.

"Like hell I will." I raised my voice loudly over the crushing wind and snow so he'd be sure to hear me.

It had seemed like hours to get back to Margin while escorted by wolves, and because the two of us had walked hand in hand the entire way here and not in our usual unique way, my weary bones could hardly keep me upright. The cold had seized my entire body, but the idea of a confrontation with Faust licked fire at my heels and kept me moving.

Thomas stopped and turned so suddenly that my nose struck his lower stomach. He jerked me back by the elbow and ducked low so his breath steamed my cheeks. "Don't cross him, Aika. He hates me, but he hates women even more, especially the ones who stand next to me."

Sasha stared up at him with one eye through the buttons of my coat. He was only a blur of hair and wind and scars.