long after Aric shu

l V

oyalty, one of the last true-bloods born under a crimson eclipse. The kin

meant to

htly in my fingers, and

now crunched underfoot. Smoke curled from the chimneys of butcher shops and bakeries as cityfolk braved the cold to

. The curse saw eno

e between that name and whatever heat had curled through

old quarter, my muscles ached and the burning und

my hand against my ribs. The runes were dimmer now-still angry, but not

ay starved it. The balance was delicate, but this job was

was

of the Moonbloods. I'd worn it since I was a child, long before I knew what

s name was Valen, and that he'd left her to die in

owing it into the

never

w, cold and still

len," I

d. A small shiver r

ach tur

dropped it beside th

reacted lik

the sec

er been. And now this. All of it felt like something was unraveling, an

've walk

aid yes,

more

last

name now. It held a map, sketched with haste but detailed enough to trace the north

ling in secret. Smart, if h

an most of

as a note, scrawl

ed to catch him before the next moon, or the curse will breach

it thre

the nex

an thre

spare clothes, vials of sedative. I strapped them int

hands were

l V

e would haunt me from n

sleep.

ther on the glass, watching the world

ng, I returned

lay. Not

ric in the eye

ker today. Fewer t

then leaned back in his chai

he scroll o

new,"

to misunderstand

n wh

e only one who can

ned. "Because

d. Half-human. You walk in both worlds.

to

agreed. "

each other fo

ke it

bound to his line. The closer you get, the worse it'll bur

orward. "An

Then I send every guild blade

ust about payment or principle anymo

s known what

hav

still tra

you wer

once. "Un

ed to

he said b

aus

u hesitate. You get one

n't a

nothing le

ones. Vendors shouted prices in the square. The world kept spinnin

truth I'd spent my

h with a stor

le snow, hood drawn tight against the cold. The air here smelled cl

around my

er done th

I didn't

wn, I knew it w

had alread