F THE LOST

g softly. Grumpy stood beside her, arms cro

said, clutching my teddy

s not just a birthmark. It's ancient, o

hat always burned when I was up

he Mark of the Lost Bloodline. One who sees what othe

y?" I w

nclear," s

" Grumpy muttered. "You wer

hings," I said. "Shadows, light

" Echo said. "How

bed. "So what

Learn who you are befor

knew I wasn't norma

walls, silent halls, and strangers' faces, it wasn't welc

ed through my back. I collapsed, gasping, and

othing wrong. My parents never came. That

ho appeared. Their visit comfor

storm. My mother met her in the study. The ne

eded parents. I met her with silence and a

hair like I mattered, and told stories-s

ike a half-moon, it burned when the ravens came. She

rst time,

o and Grumpy were visiting. They froze. Grumpy step

calm but cold. "Would you fetc

ey were gone-and di

front her. I

y named Kiva-my name. A warrior caught between tw

oon," she whispered

ow, I bel