ing wen
ust t
st the
wo
d lost its memory-forgotten how t
able to move. Her lungs felt c
h
istant but
yr
t, arms outstretche
around hers-wa
hispered. Her voi
low, cautious layers, like fo
-
ght re
-cold, distant, as if un
as though something had
l rested in
de beat... slo
pale man
lse stood i
-
red ove
loaked in
Lethal.
d. Its limbs were long and coiled with muscle, ending in claw
age. No
were
looking dire
caught in
Couldn't hide. C
pping forward. He squeezed her hand once
t didn't
ts head. Al
narled. L
ci
t Elias's side, sw
made the trees shiver. Light bloomed in fr
wled again and p
hrew back
ho
-
d split
through generations. Trees shook. The earth groa
owls a
nt at
clo
loser
nding us..." Se
oo many," Ja
locked eyes w
it tu
trees like smoke, li
-
nce
pe
ns
at?" Selena
k Howl. It's not a natural werewolf. It wa
nked. "M
said. "The darkest kind. The kin
the box. The heart inside kep
r the heart?
replied. "It
-
mach twist
ecause you opened what was sealed.
der. "Lyra... this isn't just ab
. "I just don't know wh
woods. "We need to move.
this," Lyra said quietly, turn
erstand," Eli
time. The ground was still warm. As if her fa
she
they
-
lked in
st watch
ot kind. Jus
s chest, the heart inside still bea
he village edge, th
s ba
s shut
rom w
mem
-
a turne
," she said. "There's som
Lyra
een of
ed. "She'
der than myth. And if the Blac
he air like a knif
d. "She's a
g her," Athenana said. "I t
truth settle
watching her since
t was com
-
whistle sp
Sharp.
nsed. "Sco
le answered-s
h
cre
ard it. Lyra follo
t boy on the trail,
ted. "It... fell
aring where smoke
d at its center,
si
cked
black. Like lightn
d. "That's not
-
tone
ther shadow nor flesh. S
Lyra
owing surface in r
Fen
urned fre
back. "What the
a's voi
ng mark. But no
ed slowl
for
one s
na said. "You
-
knees w
ne puls
rd
de
ead
raced toward the v
h
yes in t
ground. W
e from the
o
ng
d in front o
her c
tec
ws, another be
body rippled with power.
a voice-not spoken but
The Blood of the
olf l
ything s
-
arkness swallowed the
urned
Ancient.
f froze
dy tre
ear-flashed
fell comple
ind dared
ewhere far bey
ho
ng. Sea
a wa
a th
ca
t and lonely was tryi