tood pain came with nois

discovered pain was silence. It panted in the quiet space between the strides, pressed

pushed her to the edge of the forest. Not when rogues attacked

even know

y frame as liquid as a wolf's, yet his cologne was layered-

d. She was too emp

hed a stream, bending to scoop water

ga

ed," he breathed

dr

s as it slid down her throat. Only then did she realize

rest," he

head. "I don't

tened. "What

len

hort nod. "

evoking something. A myth?

u save me?"

more, gazing into its reflection. "Beca

eyebrow. "You w

aid. "I was b

between th

a while. "Come. Yo

are we

e Unde

ned. "That'

anymo

iving-ravines, gnarled trees, intimidating bioluminescent fungi that glo

ion of darkness and fog. Lucian walked thr

case, hewn from black ro

ep

o

ickened wi

uildings constructed of silver, obsidian, and wood enchanted with magic towered like fairy tale castle spires. Hybrids patrolled the

e gaw

." she b

Lucian c

hether she wanted

s not ostentatious, but dignified in its own right-like all thin

e door open for her. "No one wil

d him. "

k. "Because I recognize royalty when I s

ing, Sele

her ceremonial robes. Kael reached out to he

ant to," he

did," she

the side of her face

es. "Then why did

no ch

s a choice," s

r eyes-and th

back in

on

days w

ecovered

etimes with stories, but always with calm. He never pushe

actured thing, but as a perso

y, looking out over the city. Th

t down be

about him

sk who. He a

boy to look at me, not as a girl or an omega, but as a war

n lis

ogether," she said. "He

d t

scene. Told me I had betrayed the

ew hard. "He did

esita

" Lucian growled. "It's cowa

part? I think he still loves me.

s never love," he told her

"How do you know

. "Because I've

elene stood bef

t the one who danced beneath t

harder n

deep within he

in chains, nor on her knees

ack, it would

evi

eance, if

cover who had acc

hat went by, S

and the agility of a jaguar. She instructed Selene in moving as quiet as a ghost,

earned e

she regained a

on, she beat in

ene had caught up with Lucian at the brid

anged," he

ad of sweat from her

d you into a warrior. But I believe that the warrior

ing across his face. "Why

n fal

moved

ed in false light... who would come back and

breath wa

eve I am

ow yo

held

?" she b

"I am the sword tha

nd something unsaid

ot love.

was a p

she had been, sensed some

gr

pa

pe

e most dangerou