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From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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Chapter 30

I didn’t think I’d ever been this cold before.

The bedroll did nothing to stop the chill from seeping up from the

ground, and the blanket, as heavyy as the fur was, couldn’t fight back the

iciness in the air. Myy fingers felt like ice cubes inside myy gloves, and no

amount of shivering warmed myy skin.

It had to be at least twentyy degrees cooler at night inside the Blood

Forest, and I imagined if it rained, it would turn to snow here.

For the last twentyy or so minutes, I’d tried to will myyself asleep.

Because if I were unconscious, I wouldn’t be so worried about turning into

a chunk of ice. But everyy crunch of grass and stir of wind had myy hand

going to the dagger stowed under the bag I was using for a pillow. Between

the cold, the possibilityy of free-roaming barrats, and the threat of a Craven

attack, there was no wayy I was getting anyy asleep tonight. I didn’t know

how anyyone would. I’d barelyy been able to eat anyy of the food during our

quick, quiet supper.

Four guards slept. Four guards stood watch several yyards awayy, one at

each corner of the camp. Hawke had been speaking to one of them, but

now he was striding toward me. A tinyy part of me thought I should pretend

to be asleep, but I had a feeling he’d know.

Stopping in front of me, Hawke knelt. “You’re cold.”

“I’m fine,” I muttered, teeth chattering.

A moment later, I felt his ungloved fingers brush myy cheek. I tensed.

“Correction. You’re freezing.”

“I’ll warm up.” I hoped. “Eventuallyy.”

He let his hand dangle between his knees. “You’re not used to this

kind of cold, Poppyy.”

“And yyou are?”

“You have no idea what I’m used to.”

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