o longer f

g rite, Selene could feel Kade even in his silence, his rage simmering beneath st

he could

ing of it. But nei

wing called

sper again. It was not a voice. Not a sound. But a feeling, lik

, it spoke

le

d Mael a

an looked ol

That wing holds the remnants of th

" Selen

ll sings there. Bound by grief, ra

sk more, but Mael'

edge costs

oon came faster

did not shift, but she no longer feared the wolves. Some ev

hese rounds that s

e old obsidian tree. Her clothes were torn, her ha

lv

. The child

urt?" she

p, and in a voice

he blood debt. The

he col

ss went in

w the girl, he remained silent. He knelt, pla

is not ali

vessel. A messenger. The ol

uld not l

rack in her ribs, no

en this gi

eam. In

ene from returni

until the fo

chamber where the girl was

s alrea

" he said wit

u stop tellin

e was drawn, but h

Elira'

s world

ow

ound to the moon's judgment. She would ret

bond dist

too much of her. Or mayb

rd, eyes burning. "A

was louder th

woke the n

as E

s her

ira. She remem

. She washed her hair, mended her clothe

afar, a war grow

cil was

en," said Ryla. "Sh

countered. "If we banish h

ne s

sta

l looke

id not

id not s

the approva

the Howlers

y didn't come

ame fo

ier gates, a figure cloaked in re

e met him on t

sorcere

he girl,

stepped

take

followed would

versu

vers

ade shifted, mid-air, and tore through en

r reached Mira, Sele

shielded

ands

moonl

not kn

d from her fingers,

ire b

rcerer

ispered: "S

the northern

touch

ed on i

stood in t

lly fl

lly sp

face w

eyes met

she said. "But only

the northern

touch

ed on i

stood in t

lly fl

lly sp

face w

eyes met

she said. "But only

d to their knees without command. Her hair moved as though water surrounded her. Her voice, when

ery step she took seemed to echo with Elira's memories. She stopped walking past

ew that part of him still searched for Elira in her. She also kne

ned her, Selene did not w

ve the

e face

ll decide,"

t look into

fortress itself. It was not a battle of body or blade. It was a battle of memory and soul

ang was born. Legend said the First Alpha had howled there when he was still half-man

ide of the lake. Elir

aid no

ed a silv

lood that breaks, let what

water between them li

ed into th

ke pulled

not for air,

he tasted the bread they shared, felt the warmth of her mother's arms. Th

id not s

Then she saw Elira, not as a spirit, but as a girl. Laug

bleedin

not

every

opened

e her. Not atta

cry

re than I did,"

nt to carry it,"

you

ouched h

as w

e

ow?" sh

give i

epped in

viol

nt

ell to h

eart

wo pulses,

h power, with sorrow

hen p

on the l

hel

watched i

er forehead an

liv

opened

glo

ot si

go

o

that night. He said no

h

re not

. "But I carry what

ailed yo

hed for

ad. Not as Alpha

ed his

time in centurie

es

se the ne

billowed b

lined the i

rward and dropp

born

hers f

to the dais,

he sea of warriors,

he ho

in p

pro

l tha

end. A new

of the Howlers' camp, a crimson-eyed sorcer

t beg