h a velvet sky. A silver-hued moon hung low, bathing the world in its pale glow. In the smal

ls as if seeking answers written in the grain. The dream of the silver-eyed prie

blood. You ca

it lying on her pillow when she woke ,

was some

subtle pull sh

trange ache bloomed since she touched Kade Varyn's hand. The brush of their s

could explain it.

somethi

n moonlight, the trees casting long, reaching shadows. Her breath curled in the cold as s

led roots, lay a small wooden b

d into the lid: a crescent m

pped to her knees, fingers trem

p brittle yellowed

faded but legible in her grandmoth

belove

ou, then the bl

child. We carry a bond forged by anc

hroat ti

meddled with bonds meant for the gods alone. Since that day, every daughter born o

vision

t it is a chain. A claim. And should the bl

ook, the wor

your chest, the pull in your soul. Do not let it

e Blackmo

rt lurched

e V

never meant to remain hidden. The blood c

Healer. Or

e final words smudged by w

h her bones. The bond... it wasn't a fairy tale or

to

one defy f

n his den, preparing for war, never knowing that the woman who'd saved him was

he in her chest w

s lon

fe

r, tucking them back into the box.

," she w

't run. No

e surrender to a fat

r in answer, clouds drift

t begun, but the

within he