m broke

a sky gone black with fury. Whispervale's sanctuary shuddered beneath the weight of it, an

watching the silver light war with shadow. The s

raitor had fallen. But there was no triumph in her chest-only

ould str

g halls. He carried two mugs of herbal brew, steam curling like ghos

tern patrol retu

ks. Large ones. Not wolves.

's war-

r somethi

ned. "He's unleash

l leave. Take our strongest, vanish int

o him fully. "

live. So

it's like to carry this mark. I was born for something I

en I'll stand with you

warrior, but the man beneath. The one who loved h

t," she whispe

rt, she knew h

-

d again, this time with more urgency. T

ne said, her voice sharp. "The Silverfangs wil

ommander of the outer sentries. "We've seen their scouts. Their

and Lia, the youngest of the Elders-a see

warriors. Packs. Tribes. Others who reme

The white wolf walks among the ash fi

ened. "You speak of t

e us," K

" Morrienne corrected.

ward. "Then let me re

l went

, slow nod. "So be it. You w

aela said. "The

-

s passes and frost-laced valleys. The terrain was harsh, th

o scouts. The wind was sharp, stinging her cheek

ovement. Just

border of Hollowthorn territ

st thickened, clinging to their skin. Kaela could feel the pre

e wolve

rees like ghosts. At their center stood a woman with silv

forward. "Kaela of the Bloodmarked.

"I come seeking al

," the woman said, nodding towa

behind," Rive

. "Do you know what your kind

ll fall. Darian marches on us all. I saw your markings.

our mother swore to protect us. And the

sing the mark glowing faintly on her skin. "She died to protect m

tared for a long moment

us speak

-

aela met with Hollowthorn le

ry, in chambers hidden beneath sto

was not

robes knelt before him, whisp

eyes, something

n, lit by crystalline lanterns and warmed by rootfire. Their customs

er-haired matriarch who had greeted her; Brek, her second-born son, broad-shouldered an

th," Alric rasped. "But you do

," Kaela said,

he High Circle. And for tha

ard. "She defied

. "We do not

. He's after dominion. He wants to wipe out every

is teeth. "L

e's not sending wolves.

nce

her as if he could see into

aid. "In the bones of

ithout seeing the threat. But... we will send scouts. If

d. "That's

-

d, Riven approached

e said. "They don

she replied. "We

r arm gently.

his eyes a storm of qu

reply, a voice echo

't have come

ed. Her br

tall, lean, with wild dark hair an

" she w

ffened be

cold smile. "Did yo

-

shadow. He had vanished the night their mother

, flesh and blood

sted with confusi

are you aliv

rvive," he said. "Something

. "You knew she was a

n flare red," Ronan said. "Then I

," Kaela said. "You

is arms to the Hollowthorn halls. "They too

were laced

trembled. "Y

he said. "But blame changes nothing.

ll he

help them. If that means

Kaela staring after him,

-

the icy reaches of Hollowtho

his chant, and a sigil bl

true heir," S

ins are no longer bound by iron, but by

, teeth shar

-

Kaela coul

e of the Hollowthorn ridge, staring at the stars.

ined her

angry,"

eplied. "You didn't

ht he wa

. Strong. Respecte

present," Kaela said.

a breath.

m. "I know enoug

. "Even if I was

heart beat strong beneath the clo

ry, desperate. And for a moment

-

ght – Hollowt

of Hollowthorn felt colder now-less like a sanctuary, more like a tomb. The

flicker of something ancient in Riven's eyes. A shad

had shaken her more

ght of a man who had seen too much darkness. She wanted to run to him, embr

od had been spilled

door pulled her

y on the dagger beneath

a voice. Not R

was

pened t

her eyes wide and shimmering wit

omach turn

tanding over Riven's body. The

th went dry

behind you... Seris. Not b

her forearm. "

wrong abo

ame fast now. "W

-

of Hollowtho

onan did not come to see her off. Vael gave her a cautious nod, and B

ck was swif

ay, eyes scanning the woods, heart

You're thinking

't see fal

at does

ing inside me could destroy you.

d, even on horseback. "You will.

ered. "I'm just

-

anctuary – Th

d, the sentries on edge, and the inn

, battle-scarred and weary. "Yo

ed, though her b

e. He took three sentries with him-converted th

pale. "Wher

th. Toward th

n. "That's where Dar

eading him here,

id. "He's lead

-

he Forbidden

went

ut she refused. This wa

mory. These stones had once belonged to the first Moonbor

r of moonstone, robed in

ame,"

do," Kae

n into her image. Your

knew

aid. "Before she chose

closer. "You

phecy. From fate. But you... you cl

r blade. "Whe

d. "He is in the soil. In th

r shim

th Kaela's feet-ancient sigils

Seris said, "but you were for

through Ka

ring, blinding-and in that

trees as soldiers murdered her. -Seris kneeling in

ke obsidian, whisperi

to her knee

nd. You are not the savior. You are the b

er Five: Blood and Oath, as we drive toward a

-

s mind

Riven's dying breath, the scent of burning fur and ash chok

of me!" s

h the magic circle as if it were parchment. The spell cra

's all s

urning like silver fire. She slashed thro

om the wound-from something deep

done!" he cried. "You've cho

him, blade poin

ose my

ed the ruins, his scre

-

n Whis

body trembling from the magic backlash.

healer!"

onds, fury and fear on h

ped. "He was trying to awaken s

dn't s

es with him. "But h

as he held her. "Then we'l

-

r – Whisperva

Bloodmoon, its scarlet light po

anked by Riven and Garrin. On her other

ollowthorn armor polished and fierc

it had ever been. "We've tried to hold the line. But

s has turned. Darian is gathering Bloodmarked traitors to his side. He doesn't want

e than Hollowthorn. We need the Skyfangs. Th

aela said. "We win by refusing to b

mbers grumbled.

nan who silen

she reminded me of everything we lost. But sta

red at hi

id. "And any wolf with a

-

Night – Kae

the flames. Riven came to her quie

e what you saw,"

dark?" h

no

dying. Again and again. I s

. "That's why

want to l

him. "Then don't. S

nd her foreh

ds between them. Just the sound of the fire,

-

– Darian

dian throne, his body still

e admitted. "But

as calm. "She ca

dded. "I

it flower. When the moon t

she re

nd cruel. "Then we bu