roaned as

her in a swirl of glowing embers. She landed softly on dew-wet grass, the cool

smoke and red fire, wings folding into his

old forest-on the outskirts

een here since

s clawed up

teenth b

s col

er rank. The lau

ams when they we

, the crystal dagger at h

this alone," Thorne

know. But some things.

simply stepped asi

g the fire settle in her b

-

hadn't

ld stone walls. Same scent o

ees, her hood pulled up. But she didn

anym

ttered body now moved with quiet strength. Her

at the perimeter. Th

she droppe

mered, stepping

fered, voice c

he warning horn, but h

around him-not burning,

the Alpha know the omega he threw awa

rds did

alked pa

d the cen

-

ors slammed open

mid-conversation. Warri

rs started

that

suppose

be. She l

aight down the mi

, seated high on the A

roached, disbelief

breathed. "

away, head tilting. "An

pread lik

ly. "You've returned

longer weak? Br

You've come back. Th

t my sister," s

ened. "She's under disc

" Selena growled. "For

nged an Alp

you, and you cou

r skin glowing with golden ligh

here for forgiveness, or a second chance. I came for Saria. And if I don't walk out o

. "Selena-there's someth

spered, flames flickering in her eyes.

pped from the shadow

gure stepp

k robes. A hood

s skin

e rasped. "But you've come too early.

figure. "You said she would

cceler

ed her eyes.

e Binder of Veils. The one who fed Kael the poison of ambiti

mered-and th

her as the figure unleashed a pulse of dark ma

smoke, Sel

ri

to the b

e. Bleed

d-and the fi

blade drawn, flames

ith a flick of their hand. A wave of pr

t ready,"

vision

th

ling sh

descended l

om, his wings unfurled, e

ween Selena a

e was lo

ched wha

ltered. "You came a

iled cold

arriors emerged-flames trailing from

s er

her feet, blood runn

crie

with her dagger. As the last shackle

Selena whispered

clashed in a torrent of magic and fire,

t a dragon guard caug

lifting her sis

he pack that had scorned her, past t

again, the first crack o

ld had

ega wa

of Flame h