a P

. The bond, the sacred tie gifted by the Goddess, had been violently ripped out, not severed. My knees threatened

he sheer audacity of what I had just done. They had come for a

ushed to Barth's side, her face a mask of tragic

ry! This is all my fault! I never meant to come between you and your mate. We w

er face against Barth's chest, her shoulders shaking with theatrical

My voice, when I spoke, was steady. "I have done nothing to her. She is

crying her eyes out and you stand there accusing your own sister? She wa

ior shouted. "If you didn't do anything, why is she s

the! And you stand there cold as

which had been stunned into neutral

e added. "Anyone with eyes can see that! She lov

ed was a family, and Any

sy! She can't stand Barth being

ng sister to Anya! How dare Anya stand t

of monster turns on her own blood

ing missing. Elna was the only one who welcomed h

red, just loud enough for me to hear. "No wonder s

n's voice sneered. "An outsider. Always looking

as quickly being replaced by a cold, protective fury. His gaze snapped to me. His arms tightened aro

your own sister is terrified of you. She's in tears, and you sta

ze," he

power designed to compel obedience, to force me to my knees. I felt it wash over

longer a wolf

much more tha

asked, my voice laced with a mockery so profound it made the air

my defiance. He opened his mo

from him. My gaze, cold

lower, more resonant register. "Are you truly ju

fingers clutched at Barth's shirt, knuckles white, the gesture of a woman seeking prote

t fuel me. "I was watching the stars last night," I murmured, my voice taking on a strange, si

here. This was not the broken ex-Luna they expected. Th

. "A bond that should not be... a forbidden ritual, performed

what tie. I d

de of white. Her body began to tremble uncontro

nsing her distress. "What no

y sculpted eyebrow. "Then why i

er soul. "Her spirit is screaming, Barth. Because she knows. She

sound high and hysterical. "

into silence by the venom in her voice, by the raw, ugly madness in her eyes. This wa

s, those who had seen true darkness in their long lives, looked at

, my face returning to a

ry corner of the square. "But when the darkness comes to

d was p

believe me. I just neede

lm face. For the first time, a sliver of doubt, a tiny, ha

here w

haos. I turned my back on the man who had broke

es on my back. I could feel his confusion

rtai

my humiliation, but with a cryptic prophecy and a mystery. And I

unk