The Curse of Broken Shadows (Smoke and Shadow, #1)

by Laura Winter

He turned and banged on the wagon door, pausing with his hand on the wood. Squeezed his bloodied palm at the conflicting emotions running through him. Swallowed and mumbled just loud enough for her to hear. “One thousand three hundred and seventy-nine.” “What?” He didn’t turn around. “Breaths. Since I broke through the trees to now.” He sighed deep. “I counted your breaths to stay calm.” Cason jumped out of the moving wagon without turning to see her face.

“Even if you did betray us, I’m not sure Cason could do it.” Serill let go of her arm and ran his hand over his forehead. “He’ll kill me for telling you this, but… you didn’t see his face in the office. Cason knew what that number meant to you, so when the king used Calcheth against you… Brela, Cason was furious with him.”

All because you counted my breaths, Cason. In that moment, I didn’t care that I’d get burned. I wanted to set the world on fire with you.