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now a boulder stood between them. Milosh had never been accepting of Pril’s decision to raise Tsura as her own, and even though he hadn’t said so in the last year, she knew his defiance and anger were coming soon. She squeezed her daughter to her chest as fear turned her blood cold, and she shivered.
    Galius stood in the center of the circle, the fire behind him. She knew he’d be by her side through anything, but this battle was hers to fight. He cleared his throat to summon everyone’s attention.
    “Tonight we hold counsel to answer your questions, and calm your fears,” he said.
    Pril’s hands shook, and she rubbed Tsura’s back for something to do. She knew what her people dreaded, and Milosh was mixed up in their doubt.
    “We’ve been told Tsura is of special blood. She is the reason for the hunts,” Ivan spoke, clutching his daughter Callie to his side.
    “This is untrue,” Galius said in low even tones. Pril knew he would only give short answers, refusing to divulge more.
    “Your own brother, Milosh, has said these things. How can we be certain she is not the one the Monroes want dead?”
    The faces of her clan stared back at her and Tsura. Pril bounced her daughter on her lap to hide the fact her legs were trembling.
    “Milosh is grieving the death of his own child. His words cannot be taken as truth.”
    “We want to see behind the child’s left ear,” Emmett said.
    Often quiet during clan meetings and ensconced in his vardo most days, Emmett didn’t seem at all the man he’d portrayed himself to be these past years. His wide shoulders stood out, daring any person, Galius included, to decline his request.
    She was having none of it. She was not afraid to stand up for her child. “What will that tell you?” she asked, her voice pitched as she glared at the other man across the fire.
    “It will tell us if she is branded. The Monroes hunt the marked one.”
    “Of course they do, but would you not have seen way of this mark on my child long before now? She has frolicked among you for three years.”
    Emmett snickered, and she didn’t miss the muscles twitch in his neck.
    “I do not go about checking behind little girls’ ears.”
    “But you have need to now?”
    “Yes, we all do.”
    She addressed the crowd. “You’re all wanting to see behind Tsura’s ear?”
    Some nodded while others turned away, refusing to acknowledge the question.
    “Sister, show them,” Galius said from beside her.
    She inhaled expanding her chest and stood with Tsura in her arms. Placing the child’s head to her chest, she ran her fingers through the thick curls to pull back the hair behind her ear. With careful steps, she walked around the fire. Every muscle in her body tense, she prayed the light from the fire, the herbs and powder covered the mark she knew was there.
    It’d been Galius’ idea to hold the counsel in the evening. He knew they’d ask to see the child’s ear, and with just enough powder and firelight it could be hidden. The mark was small and sat in the crease behind her left ear. Vadoma had the same one.
    Sorina refused to look, showing she trusted her friends and didn’t believe what Milosh had said. While others nodded in acceptance as she passed. Once back at Galius’ side, she tucked her head into Tsura’s neck to blow out the long breath she’d held.
    “Who is the man in the supply wagon?” Ivan asked.
    “His name is Kade Walker, and we will make sure he holds no threat to us before we release him,” Galius said.
    “He is injured, and when he is well I am sure he will be on his way,” Pril added.
    Milosh burst into the circle, hair disheveled and eyes wild. He pointed a long finger at her.
    “That child is a spawn. She is the reason we all have been running.”
    Pril caught Galius’ eye. Heart hammering in her chest, she placed Tsura on her hip and turned to shield her daughter.
    “You have been grieving, Brother.” Galius placed his hand on Milosh’s shoulder.
    He shoved