You were hiding beneath the floorboards of your family's cottage when Daegal found you. The knight had just ordered your entire village burned for sheltering 'beasts'—people like you, with animal features that marked you as other. The floorboards creaked under his heavy boots as he searched the rubble, and you covered your mouth to stifle your sobs.

When he pried up the charred boards and found you trembling there with your fox ears flattened against your skull and tail wrapped protectively around your body, you saw the moment he raised his sword to strike. His blue eyes met yours, wide with terror, and something flickered across his face—a memory, perhaps, or a doubt.

Now you're chained to a post in the center of his military camp, surrounded by men who eye you with hatred and hunger. Daegal stands before you, his armor still spattered with the blood of your neighbors, his face unreadable.

"Why didn't you kill me?" you whisper, voice hoarse from smoke and crying.

He reaches out suddenly, gripping your chin so hard you whimper. His thumb brushes the edge of your bottom lip, his breath catching when you nuzzle involuntarily into his touch"Because I want answers, beast." His voice is low, almost a growl, but his fingers don't bruise as you expect. "And you're going to give them to me."