one hand, her eyes fixed on the door like it might unhinge itself again. Outside, the mist didn't lift, it only thickened, curling against the windows like breath

ild filling her lungs like needles. "You need to see it," he said. "What you've been marked with." Eden blinked. "I don't have any marks." "Yes, you do." He reached into the firelight, grabbed a silver bowl, and set it on the table between them. Inside, the surface shimmered like mercury. Put your hand in it. She hesitated. Nothing will hurt you, he added. Not in here. Eden took a breath and plunged her fingers into the liquid. Cold pierced her skin instantly, but it wasn't wet, it was like dipping into moonlight. Then the pain hit, very sharp, burning and alive. She screamed but Kade caught her wrist, holding her in place. Look, he said. The liquid reflected her arm li

et. And now that you've come back. "I'm a target", she interrupted. "You're the target. Eden stood too fast, dizziness crashing over her. "Why me? I'm not special. I don't have powers or some destined legacy. I was just trying to get away. My life was already" Her voice cracked. "I didn't ask for this." Kade didn't say anything. He let her cry, just a few tears,

spers followed her like smoke. She paused in front of an old church. Its doors were chained shut. The stained-glass windows were cracked. A symbol-her symbol-had been scratched into the stone in what looked like dried blood. "What is this place?" she asked. Kade didn't look at it. "The Chapel of the Howl. It hasn't been safe since the last culling. "Culling? she a

anged in a circle. A girl stood in the center, looking pale, shaking, bound in vines. Around her were dozens

t blood remember. Let

ing you." "I saw them, she screamed, the wolves. You. You bit me" His jaw clenched. "It's part of the binding. It means the blood bond is close to surfacing. If it completes, there's no going back." "Back from what? Being human." Eden shoved away from him. "You think I want any part of th

't flinch. She looked toward the window, toward the woods. T