the jagged cliffs that cradled Whispervale. Below the sanctuary, the wind screamed like a woun

nst the cold. The mark beneath her collarbone pulsed, not with pain but warning. A rh

nctuary was not as

d sunk int

Someone had betrayed them. Someone inside. And if the traitor wasn't unmasked soon

footsteps be

't sleep

lid against the moonlight. His shirt was half-unlaced, his hair wi

per barely louder than the wind. "

alley. "There's something moving in the south. A s

ffened. "

arian knows we're here. He just

a bitter sound. "I'm not e

g hers gently. "Stronger than you believe

ingered-war

"And what if the traitor

kened. "Then they'

in his eyes. There

hat. Because trust, once broken

-

ined stone that shimmered like water. The three elders stood at the head of the circle, with t

e front, beside Seris, who re

e eldest Guardian, a white-furred she-wolf named Morrienne, announced.

umbled throug

the traitor remains among us, every secret we

kered in silences too long. An

outsider. The new

wolf will stand before the Moonglass Flame and speak the Oath of Loyalty

led throug

It was an ancient fire enchanted to reflect truth and fal

at moonrise," Morrie

Kaela turned to Riven. "

lies, yes. But sometimes... t

-

low basin filled with still water. Moonlight poured in through the circular skylight above

ted every corrid

n she h

ot footsteps-sc

side passage. The walls narrowed, slanting inwa

ished, but moonlight spilled acro

ll, whispering into a small,

slammed agai

tep closer.

could hear

awakening faster than expected. Bu

und was barely audib

nto his cloak. For a heartbeat, they s

he lu

g across the floor. His cla

sed, scrambling to her

're just a pawn. A cursed heir to a broken

!" she shouted, dod

ark flared with silver light. Power surged through her limbs, and

ed a metal rod from a

sickening crack. Seris dropp

reath came in gasps. The mark still

e

-

begun. The Guardians stood around the Moonglass Flame-a co

mber, her clothes torn,

she cried. "He

s er

ed forward. "Ex

side her. She told them everything-what she'

d, the chamber w

. "She's telling the

he Guardians con

amber, bound and still dazed. The mark on hi

s. "You don't know

ve done," she replied c

the flame. "Let the

tared into the fire, and for a m

flame tur

the fire licking up his arms, se

lay on the ground, hi

, but

re

be imprisoned. Stripped of ran

triumph. Onl

e hall with

-

Riven in the watchtowe

entered, his expr

d us all,

o," she replied. "But I

You're more than tha

eyes, the tension betw

er. "We might no

," he sai

he kis

fierce, desperate, a promise mad

apart, their f

Riven whispere

t's make sure there's

e moon reac

eneath the mountains, the