Blood & Moonlight

d eye peering through the thi

earth, stone, and something darker-something primal-saturated the air. From atop the crumbling archway, she watch

off the tombstones and ruins that dotted the Hollow Vale. She turned away, unwilling to

belong he

the dark?" came a

's steps were feather-light, but her presence always

ne quiet. "About how much longer I can

You know if anyone else heard you sa

hed. "Let them see what I am. Maybe

han what they made you. More than what they trained you to be. But if you'

the woods far below-the shape of something large

hing

wo

rowed h

a asked, following

turning away from the

. She'd seen enough t

ire territory? Suicidal-or bold

ers along the edge of an ancient blade mounted above her hearth. The silver was etch

ngers

nce. A gift he'd made for her, back when his affec

ame possessive, cr

r how many times he whispered lies into the ears of the council. No

tled the ch

owned. "W

brother's voice was

ll frame was a mirror of their father's-stern, commanding, and war-forged. Bu

it?" sh

eastern border. Our sentries

led. "A

just one. There's talk o

beat faster, th

e planning something, we need to

lene sai

rrowed. "No? Sin

ar. Again," she said. "

ike one of t

landed l

lood," she snapped. "Tired of bu

confusion, hurt, and a flicker of something el

"You don't have to like it.

oment. Then, with a growl low in

Selene leaned against it, her

ing. She could fe

... She was

ing with the enemy, even if it meant

at night. Even when the va

ded the patrol routes, her hood drawn low, footsteps barely brushing the moss-covered stones.

e was looking for. Only

e beyond

shrank back in

brushing against his bare chest, his breath curling like mist around h

amp with sweat from the run. And thoug

l it. Someth

tile. N

ng enough t

g out here?" came

, fully clothed and fully scowling. Loyal to t

ust beyond the Vale. The vampire territory shimmered like a mir

," he fin

d flatly. "Near vampire

ow. "Do you want to h

o stop tempting death. You know w

uldn't c

more like one of the

de Rona

want to be

buried. His father, the elders, the pack council... They still barked about old battles and bloo

felt like someth

drops," he said, his voice qui

ollow," Riv

t the edge

ught as she reache

ingers. The Vale had always been a boundary-a graveyard of ancient

hing

she s

A shape moving

e. Too fluid for huma

e of a tree, silently watching as

Shirtle

darkness like he knew

idn't

er di

ess silence, their