na Thor

rom the sacred ground when Lyra's triumphant voice call

essened to a fine mist, dripping from the

-the smug, arrogant Corbin and the vapid, cruel Celes

ed a worn cloth bundle at my feet. It landed

le wooden carving of a wolf howling at the moon. It was a gift from Gideon on my first birthday

nd. "Look at that. The entire worldl

rom my core. My inner wolf snarled. *The pup needs to

is merciful," she purred. "He's allowing you to take this trash

forward, their sheer size meant

ly for the first time without a hint of subservience. They were deep, bott

alm. "Do you really believe Gideon's d

a title, the quiet authority

puffed out. "Insolent bitch! How d

took a half-step back, a flicker of primal fear in his eyes, as i

fed. *This pup dar

returning to Lyra. "You thin

s tensed, but a strange, unseen pressure held

y water and picked up the wooden wolf, ignoring the ruined clothes. I

. "You've made a mistake," I said, each word a c

ng. "You're a fool leading sheep to the slaughter, an

n the damp air, confusi

a sneer. "What nonsense are you ta

lips. "Whether I'm mad or not..

he forest. This time, no one tried to stop me. The aura I projected, an invisible man

e behind me. "Mother, she... she

ly was her only answer. "J

nst a trunk, my body trembling. A wave of exhaustion washed over me, and

ing rumble in my mind. *Well done,