as heavier t

ded amount of time would awaken an ancient malevolence. And that was probably true. The

hybrid gate guards bowed low, their ey

orming. They c

ow only a palimpsest scar. The shame

r remaine

Nyra, Gavik, Lucian, and the new hybrid commanders, stood

didn't

dagger acro

the blade that killed Reina. The very same

ss the room like

n. "She was killed for it. But her spirit

a war-hardened jaguar hybri

person-a hooded one whose voice was shrouded in shadow. They were af

ing of blood," Gavik panted.

forward. "They'll b

r the pressure of quie

ve the truth. But the Alphan Court will not

ill shatter when the truth is inscrib

leapt up. "You m

him," she said.

red wide. "The

is taboo. It has not been invoked since the War

ing across the silver. "Then let it bleed. The

r shoulder. "If we do this

er was," s

ain ridges where the gale howled louder than any animal. The ro

ok the lead, her cloak billowing like smoke, the dagg

t, they reached th

was thin

ere replaced by rough rock. And there, un

loods

th red lines ancient as time that tr

horse, the crunch of her

is hand on the face of t

ed. "Still sleeping. B

to Selene's s

no

the dagger

ir sh

on gre

m across and slapped

happened

anguish after all those years of quiet. Blood slid down its si

across the sky-low, gu

ame

ag

g chorus fille

had bee

. Would hear the summons. He would b

have gone to war. Not with fire

ose he sends assassin

already silvering. "Th

have to go. The Valley wil

one again. "Let them come. The

to the Undercity as

rderlands. Not just Alphan soldiers, but rogue grou

council con

They will not risk Kael facing you in the Rite.

aver. "Then I'll

ck first. Coordinated raids along their supply line

nners," Selene compl

n eyebrow. "Ev

"Especially

s a tens

in a hundred years. It was not merely

ised on the tallest s

gil. A wolf's head

t, the wind catching

r, a rare softness in hi

you," she

nd watched you burn. Saw them chain you. And hat

pered. "That's more t

alloused fingers warm. "I

d. "Even when

ially

forehead against his. "I

mured. "You'

y everything they'd lost and everything they were about to claim

re hi

re si

y w

the Undercity, Kae

arrived not in w

enforcer named Ryden, furrowed his

e," Ryden snarled.

e remained

an I expected,"

g Pack. Poison the valley. Stop this befor

"No. She wants me

idened in shoc

burning gold. "We gi

pa

dropped. "Yo

er," Kael hi

hind him. "Call the council.

them cracked

r had