KING AZRIEL CAELUM FENRIS

across the breakfast table. Elira padded into the kitchen barefoot, still tugging her brush through a s

ra said, lightly tapping th

ges of her warm brown eyes. "Again? Elira, you're eight

lira murmured, wrapping

irm hug. "It's just nerves. Every wolf feels it before their Awakening.

familiar scent of lavender and earth

"I've got knitting class with Liana's mother. I'll drop by

go walking after her chores. I think she ju

sounds like her. Alright,

he was gone-leaving Elira with a quiet house, a nervous heart

vel path arm-in-arm with Mrs. Duskwing, both women already deep int

e faint tick of the old wall cloc

ghing. The silence ma

ld snap into place, if th

hung from her neck. It had belonged to her adoptive mother's m

today brought an odd twist in her st

d her shawl, and made her way down the fami

ed in ivy and thick with enchantments that only wolves of noble blood could

nce, then pushe

en call out, the fr

her comfy house robe. "If you made me wait one more minute,

the warmth of the Duskwing ho

led her to the kitchen. The smell of cinna

mum's berry tart," Seraphine sa

ach growled.

ine leaned on her e

oday's t

eyes but smiled.

s out to be some brooding rogue with a

pineless snob who thinks orphan

s expressi

ira

. "I just... Can we pretend to

stood, grabbed her sketchbook from t

ave something bette

d a brow. "

ut boys. And maybe paint flowers like sad virgi

g, the weight in her ch

n said, "I want to s

smile falter

for knitting class, and I haven't seen Liana

ound as if it had weight. "You know I

"You two used to braid each othe

smooth like silk but lacking warmth. "We're cordial, sur

"Braid each other's

. she has a way of making things about herself. And some

r been anything but kind to me. She's always checking in. Besides, she hel

at the herb market about it a

hy are you being like this

tone clipped. "I just don't trust her. No

it fully. She turned away, continuing down the path. "Well, you don't have

sed if she starts asking weird questions again. Last time, she g

inked. "

w. The council doesn't exactly

mment. Her thoughts wandered. Why wou

the next Luna Queen won't be chosen at all. That fate w

Her heart flut

he asked

raphine whispered. "That Decree has held power in one bloo

r. "You think the council

t," Seraphine said, her voice barely

th caught in

of something unsaid. Elira reached up and touched the crescent-shaped pendant resting on

she murmured, swa

r arms crossed. "I'll wait outsi

id. "Come in.

, then nodded. "Alright. But if she bri

twisting stone path that led to Liana's ivy-covered cottage. The house sat

She couldn't have known the threads of fate were already twisting, already tying knots behind her b

s home. It was cozy, cluttered in a comforting way-books stacked like towers of thought, herb bundles hanging

phine to follow. "She's probably in her room. Yo

lf," Seraphine mutte

replying. She tiptoed down the narrow hallway, stopping at the fa

rainbows across the floor. There were ink-drawn maps tacked to the walls, strange symbols etched in charcoal on parchment, and a few

here?" El

Seraphine said flatly. "O

ude," Elira

nd of the room. Liana's closet door creaked

ped forward just as

t her sides. Her usually bright honey-blonde curls were a bit

..." she

wn. It echoed-low, distant, like

aphine instincti

said again, now conce

licked to Elira's chest, locking onto the si

y Queen," s

ing the curtains and sending the crystal light dancing madly across t

in a sharp breath

plit second, and she swayed on h

ed, catching Liana just

ra knelt, brushing Liana's hair

s fluttering as though emerging from a deep sleep. Her bro

t pounding. "You..

gh. "What? That's a weird dream. I probably

ine said sharply. "You went fu

y with Elira's help. "No, no wa

eated. "Wait-you've

when I was little. Visions, I guess. My grandmother said they

y suddenly decided to restart today o

ybe it's the herbs. I've been wo

phine snapped. "You said my

heart still poundi

ls turne

d honestly, it's freaking me out. But I don't

, you're my sister in everything but blood. If

ing something back. Elira didn't mi

er feet and dusted off her bla

odded. "Sorry.

ced a smile.

into Elira's ear and whispered, "Keep your eyes open.

gain-still faintly warm against her skin-and wondered if th