e

ame at

n from its shadows. They didn't make a sound. Not a rustle, not a whisper. Just motion

o the Hollow thrummed with warning. He stood still, arms folded over

d a jagged silver scar that ran like a crescent moon across his right chee

s voice was sharp, britt

od, the bare minimum of

sed faintly with old magic. His attention landed on the girl standing just b

murmured. "The bl

Veyr replied, voi

smile. "She doesn't need to b

-

al

red herself f

ked in cryptic symbols, speaking in riddles. She thought they might b

she saw

ard eyes, yes, but eyes that s

long braids and a thick scar

e woman said, her voice deep an

at voice didn't thre

as he approached her. "We t

lf upright even though her legs felt l

was something unnerving about the c

nstinct told her not to trust this man. His

d in being anyone'

n't. But you are a symbol. And symbols

w clearly he had rehearsed this moment

er," she said, wa

ame. When she fell, we lost not just a leader, b

that," she said, n

ned a little. "We wa

-

ss

r Verin said the moment Cassi

ked to control you. Only to keep t

low," Verin snapped, rising from his chair. "Explain why yo

His heartbeat thudded onc

al

s with

known. Not

ned. If they reached her first, if they twisted her

let the

there, risi

-

al

ogether. It was prepared, calculated

l in patterns that made her head ache. As she stepped through the boundary,

fami

in tent. He poured tea from a copper kettle, its s

e," Thalia said, arms crossed. "Is

as. We don't pledge fealty to bloodlines. But we reme

"Your mother carried the Luna Flame.

taking the cup. The tea

say no?"

ack slightly. "T

dramatic. Not a threat. J

-

e

t outside the

d when she challenged Kaelion. Heard

asn't

as closer

the trees, and

y hidden by shadow and pin

falling with ragged breath. Blood streaked one arm. His

locke

peak. Neither

ilence sa

en possess in their own way, had already moved

rising.

orld woul

al

im before

had dulled over the past few days, becoming somethin

tu

sting in the cold air. His clothes were torn. Blood st

chest t

lept. Like he had clawed his way t

d but stopped shor

e," she said, voice b

to se

w forming from the ground. Cassian saw

me," Cassian said

hate you. But I don't... I do

thing crumbling behind his e

-

el

the shadows, Kae

l and t

a smirk tou

he woman with the braid

plied. "Let them choo

al

and bitter. "You let them spit on my name. You said noth

ts clenched.

d her chi

"Of what I'd have to

red at him

rk on her shoulder tingled. A flic

become

es for a moment,

rom the Moon Festiv

kno

hey were clear, steady. "The

gh. Honest. "I'm asking to stand besi

eath h

'm going tears

small, t

build someth