he mansion fe

t. And the scent of rain hung thick i

ck tee, and boots that hugged her calves like a second skin. She looked

llway, two wolves in human f

" one of them sai

wh

er an

she hadn't seen before. The walls were stone, the floor lined with

ing a cult,"

e lau

ight. Lucien stood inside, shirtless, standing beside Helena and two

re you sacrifice me?"

led her ey

mained s

e blood rite. We test the claim. I

f it's

Lucien said. "And

or the trick. He looked tire

"Fine. Let's get this

ed her a si

liced her palm clean, steady

r, cutting his han

sed palms

oment-n

a cr

their bodies like lightning caught in flesh. Symbols on the fl

n ga

re through

ght. A crown made of bones. A war she didn't rec

... was at

collapsed to her

de her, panting, hi

had gone pal

forward. "The bond is s

ad. "No. No, I did

napped. "You were chosen by so

't wan

ood. "Nei

eyes l

ng shifted

erness.

ecogn

ed. Whether they

asked, standing

lders. "Prepare the oa

snapped up. "T

we don't have time. The

mach turned

e mine now, Raven. In blood.

back. "I nev

he said. "But if you want to

acked. "I'm

royalty. And in this world, that crown w

r slamm

rushed in, bleedin

ed the outer wa

heart

"How did they

said. "And they won't stop

Raven, eyes f

ll want

no

," he said. "

dn't a

didn't r

hat was the