The Anchor Line

Kestrel can read a trail after rain, a frightened animal from one broken stem, and a lie in disturbed ground. What he cannot read is Larke.The trail north should have ended at an abandoned mining road. Instead, Kestrel finds fresh supply traffic, a working no current map can account for, and ground deliberately taught to lie.The Pride's scout has spent his life trusting terrain more easily than people. Larke, an outrider from a settlement that has survived for decades by remaining unseen, is the first person who can consistently out-read him. She is ordered to guide The Pride away from what must stay hidden. He is ordered to learn what someone is building beyond the broken Line.Their attraction is quieter than either knows how to handle: shared watches, unfinished questions, hands that linger only when necessity gives them permission. Kestrel has never learned to ask to be wanted. Larke was taught that wanting anything for herself puts everyone she loves at risk.But someone is gathering old Wardkeeper knowledge, hidden routes, and dangerous binding craft for a purpose Hollowfen cannot afford to misunderstand. To stop it, Kestrel and Larke will have to decide whether being known is more dangerous than remaining silent.The Anchor Line is Book Four of Hollowfen, an adult frontier romantasy with open-door romance, found-family stakes, and a complete HEA. Best read in series order.