against my face as I sprint down the deserted street toward Lucian's territory-a maze of alleyways and hidden gates known only to insiders. Every shadow could hide an assassin; e

roken neon sign, illuminating the blood seeping through my sleeve. I press a hand against the wound,

tries stand guard-wolves in human skin, lean and watchful. One raises a han

nd's high walls are draped in ivy, runes glowing faintly silver under moonlight. This is

s, casting long shadows that twitch like living things. Somewhere a barred door clangs shut.

n hall's arched entrance. He propels me inside, straight-bac

c says, his voice low.

ol stone to steady myself. "I need answers." Pain bloss

d. He's waiting in the chamber." He gives

My knife is sheathed, talisman heavy against my chest, spectrometer clipp

ack oak stands closed. I raise my fist and rap on the wood. St

ucian's vo

elve pairs of unblinking eyes-regard me like a pack of starving wolves sizing up prey. Marcellus's ancient muzzl

the floor, amber eyes unreadable. He steps forward and I meet him

he demands, voi

unting my bloodline, Kane. He knows our bond. He knows prophecy." Pain flares as I shift my weight. I lift my jacket sleeve, revealing bruised ri

ace like we carry plague. He reaches me and kneels, hand brushing the cut on

He knows something about me I don't. He called me 'silve

is gaze sweeps the council. "Prepare every sentinel. No one outside

stands, nodding, and Morwenna drifts forw

ding. "What about me?

under guard. No more solo hunts." His words are a command and a plea

ber gaze, so fierce it cracked the night, rallies som

y responsibility." He turns to leave

d. I force my face steady, refusing to give

-

portraits of past alphas, eyes following my every step. In the infirmary, Marisol

presses cooling salve to my wound, and I sigh a

. "You know I don't do backup," I

thumb brushes the talisman at my throat. "Draven's mark is more th

him before he completes anything." I sit up, ignor

She points to a circle of runes on the screen. "This pattern opens a trapdoor between our world and the ol

sts. "So that'

by piece. He used wolves to channel the magic. He's n

tle like stones in my gut. "We st

es. "I've strengthened your tracer. Next wolf enc

coiling in my che

at my side-he can't

my lips tremble. "Then let's g

-

to my thigh, spectrometer humming softly at my hip. The compound sleeps under warded s

wolves at the gate stir but do not alert. I move past them, heart

glows faint silver. My pulse hammers. The trapdoor's map. I drop to my knees, fingers traci

stepping from the fog: wolves in human skin, eyes glinting like molten gold. Their coats shimmer

side. A snarl echoes through the night as their

r's glow intensifies, reflectin

ar and adrenaline, that ther