cross stone walls carved generations ago. Wolves shifted between human and beast at ea

't sit. He

sed, gaze set on the canopy outside, where the

e council was

ai

nights ago," Elder Merek barked

of intent," said Rona

pires. That is intent." Ronan turned

s snapped

"You sound li

reat but Ronan took

be real," Ronan said. "A

r it", Elder

k. "Trying to burn a vampire vill

fell l

s went white ag

d Ronan, gave a quiet sigh of di

ng to be," R

moving toward the exit when Merek snarled after him, "Keep

didn't

one smooth motion. The wind was cold, but the run burned through

Through pine. Across streams

ed... he realize

carried

. Unmistakab

fear, No aggressi

f a clearing, the same o

d the veil of trees,

clouds, body poised and still as dea

le

her name yet.

moonlight hit him. He saw the glint of

it

st

d his

stillness. "I thought your k

ight away. Her head

ought yours didn't know how

spread acr

is charming, o

if I'm killing yo

t." He raised his hands in mock surre

ht, her pale skin catching the moo

e. A

the way i

tly. "Here we are. No teeth

itched-almo

north, a howl

n's. Not

ut. Getting

snapped towa

e soft now. "Next time, I might

e. "Next time, I

en he

s with the phantom of her na

ntil the forest had

-still, silent, sensing.

what just happe

it

his teeth or curse her name. The way he stood u

us man. A

ed to find her heart racing like prey. It

ios

nto the trees before she

t the St

e walked quickly, her cloak still damp from the forest air, her mind st

door, a voice slid

you took midn

art st

d, not surprised

dor like he belonged in her

But Selene knew better now. She saw the twist in his mouth, the

brushing an invisible speck off his sle

air," Sele

head. "Air? Or

terested in

r, voice lower.

rm. "And the

nto his charm. "Careful, Selene. You're drawing attention. Vanishing, wand

ollowed me?" she a

are." He reached for her, f

ped back

in his eyes-someth

nemy here," he

r of everything I want to forget." Then she turn

just enough to whisper, "The court is watc

shut betw

against the wood, puls

ths ago-but now, more than ever,

ing... he was only j