did not come with sunlig

The fire in the den had burned down to embers, and frost glazed the edges of the roots that wove into the ceiling. Still, Lyra felt

hunted prey. Not j

something else. S

h sweat as he struck a heavy staff against a carved stone pillar, over and over, each strike s

gainst the tr

t sleep?"

"Didn't need to. The

ighter. But also heavier. Like there's

s gaze lingered on her l

wolf. She's s

ward slowly. "Ho

r staff. She caught it

y trusti

t session

stumbled, got knocked down-more than once flat on her back in the snow

attacks, how to breathe through instinct. It wasn't just

"Taught to shrink, to submit. That ends now. You fight from your c

if the wolf inside me

voice low. "Then s

-

r a flask of cool water as they rested by the ruins. The air shimmered

Why do you stay here? Why

"Because if I do, the

ntly. "But I saw what happened to you.

n cut in. "Because I couldn'

curse... it's connected to

ame knot. The prophecy said the last of the moon

n-ma

ere faint silvery lines now s

there. An ancestral mark. It means you're descended from the Firs

h caught. "A

s, centuries ago. It started as a punishment for betrayal-but

o what happens if we

d hoarse. "Either sa

-

ouds smothered the moon, and an unn

immediately, senses sha

im, her wolf clawing

l pierced

ano

"Scouts. Shadow Ridge. Th

ven herself. "They'll find

ing them here. The Hollow may protect us-b

sts. "Then we take

Lyra's steps were sure now, her body humming with instinct. Her wolf did

an wolves and one warlock cloaked in silver.

So the rumors are true. You'

voice like steel. "You

girl. She belon

d. "I belon

ised a hand-an

en his strikes, using everything Kaelen taught her. When she finally slamme

nd with a gasp-

of bone and a flash of golden eyes. The

ll bring more. We n

hands. "I felt it. The m

vealing you. But it's also call

the trees, but Lyra kn

just about h

about p

wouldn't stop

, he wouldn't

ome hi