ena

nd was a block of ice. I stared directly at Arlin, my voice

Arlin, do you clai

the grounds that I saw you with my o

her voice dripping with false pity. "

up. Amber Hayes, one of Jaylin's sycoph

cronies, sneered. "Gamma McLa

lin. "I asked for proof. All you saw was a dr

smiles faded. A few nobles

You expect me to believe

th a sudden twist, I wrenched one arm free. I stag

g at the back of the crowd. She f

rward slightly, his gray eyes sharper than before, fixed on the needle of moveme

react. I reached for the slim metal case fastened to his belt, the kind

d back t

pen and drew out a n

crowd collectively recoiled. Werewolves

are you doing? Are you tryin

r skin, severed our connection to our inner w

dy as I held the lancet up. It glint

d with a substance known as 'Moonshadow Slumber.' It's odorless, tastel

ollapsed, replaced by pure, unadulterated panic. She ne

authority. "If there is poison in my blood, the silver will change color. If there is no

My life, my future, my v

ed into silence

pers. This was no longer a simple

ylin and Polly. Both looked

rent, do you accept my challenge? Because if you lose, this engagement will not be 'voi

I would not be rejected. I wo

llenge sworn on one's own life was an act of co

ixture of hatred and grudging respect. Finally,

. I a

my hand. The silver point was per

ook on my stepsister's face. My world narrowed to

I brought the poin