Every blade honed. Every darkness called upon. Selene braced herself against t

Moon

ly glimpsed the tru

eeting of her closest friends-Lucian, Nyra, and a huntsman n

cast flickering shadows

a map upon t

clared. "The land weeps there. Blood se

re Kael cursed me. Where he acc

. "Then it's time he

ere's a trail across the Briar Ravine. Hidden. Un

r shadows will f

ian taunted. "What d

nt cold. "A memor

ong empty trails, moving through crevices in the woods where even light beg

ght, they came

nds, draining the innocent. Selene strode on, u

very sou

cliff's edge, the moon shone full down

struck h

ky wood.

stag

ught her.

r...?" she

hit her like th

ars ea

dow. The sam

pack, towerin

he turned on us! She commodified o

her innocence. "It isn't true! I was framed! Reina can vouch

. "Ran off after your betray

ough the asse

wailed, darting glances towards the

ly turned the

ocked around

corching.

mark of exile was seared just beneath the left

k of tr

nto the forest, grief-

e fell to her knee, he

knee next to her. "

ed me," she panted. "Whe

ar. The pale lines still glowed with a s

e injured skin. "He used silver. That brand. it

ing. "But I did. I returned. And I'll sco

ning warmly. "There is something amis

ask, the earth b

h the trees-not an ani

stepped fro

, eyes vacant, hair in

s heart

ei

t titled

ed, voice distant, e

loser. "What did

ened-but it was not

as K

e price for

body t

Fire. S

. "It's a spirit-binding. So

ice was i

t just Kael. There's an

r fists. "How do

d pointed to the rock wher

ed. "The dagger.

der aside. Underneath, wrapped in tattered velvet, was a cere

s. The whispers grew as he

upt

fl

oo

Kael in secret consultation,

hissed. "If she mates with Lucian

ed. "Then we'll d

d, yanking h

That dagger-Reina must have used

rit fli

na whispered. "But they ca

er teeth. "Then

the dagger i

r light exploded

ack burned-and th

xhaled, her form

is yours no

irit was already dissipating, draw

ne whispered. "I

host

know

n she w

o the Undercity

Selene's lap, covered in

ger a

as p

her. Proof that another-hidden and p

e silence. "The

newly smooth skin on her back.

led. "Ab

t among the tre

d had s

it bear whis

bore

d