E

me like hung

n the slivers of moonlight spilling into the cave. My horse screamed,

ink, teeth snapping, and I did t

This was no slow unraveling. It

into deadly black claws. My teeth ached as they pushed out of my gums into long, curved fangs. My limbs stretched, musc

my chest. And then I w

f was

hoing off the stone walls, and laun

ove it into the cave wall, stone cracking behind it. Before it could recove

s kick that sent it skidding across the floor. I didn't stop. I ran straight into the next, my sho

oared with

of nightmares. They were relentless, clawing and swarming, attack

spiders. No hesi

rolled, crushing it beneath me. Another tried to flank m

ve couldn'

d down like knives. Stone gave way beneath trampling claws and ho

horse scr

ne of the creature

N

into the Wyrmfang before it reached her. I clawed it down

, terrified

red through gritted teet

s losing

were slowing. My limbs fel

re just

g open my side. I gasped. Another clipped my thigh. A t

g them off-but another lunged an

ain explode

hurled it into the wall. But something cha

o mud. My thoughts slurred, like slee

no

t me with veno

hed weakly. Another tr

uldn't fall.

hen,

m the W

omeone

oved like a phantom, cutting through the swarm with terrifying precision. His fists glowed fai

l hard enough to splinter the stone. Another tried to bi

o he was. To thank

d me under like a ti

orld turn

up to s

softened. My head pounded like war drums

lin

A different cave

shoulder, soaked slightly in drie

p with

here

el

beside him. His cloak was damp, his face pale-but he looke

at happened

y Wyrmfangs. I saved

ere?" I said,

on your own, so I followed-to make sure you were safe

fine. I don't need your

. "Your injuries tel

ay. The fir

ing the Moon Calling ceremony?" I a

sit beside me on the wid

tly. "If I got involved, I would've made it

"After everything we've been through. You just... sta

orry,

ars burned the c

s Aeron's. For throwing away all our years of friendship... for c

f I ever see him again.

Aeron wouldn't have sent you away if there wa

of love, then he can keep it. Because wha

s arms wrapped around me, warm and steady.

" I whispered, voice

" he sai

e, the fire crac

s the crescent birthmark you've h

sed. "No. Why wo

e, his express

e it's

ha