NE'S

★★

since she left to get

he Star Festival last

was my first crush-and somehow, I'd become his. We've been

rowned. "She said she needed dandelion root

the bed. "Did she sa

"No. Just that sh

dropped.

asked, sud

b grows," he said, his voice low

mach d

Moon

ing horror stories about them-our people captured, tortured,

be there. And if she was

and start

o me. "What a

hes into my bag. "Peeling vegetables? I'm going

lpha Jace would never let

ing my bag, "he does

searching mine. "It's dangerou

"I'm goin

ful. "We have to go now-the bo

. I'll

eave, then pau

said, smilin

g for yo

-

nder the fading light,

felt like eye

eard the warnings. I grew up feari

sed. My l

nny's still..." Liam h

I said firmly.

he added. "So there are only two options..

ch o

I dove, slamming Liam to the ground just in

Liam

t path. I bolte

e was silver, sleek, and fast... but fragile. Still

h

ro

loded in

back to human mid-air,

pounded

I saw

lack

blood unde

him. Th

there in front

ike a god, his dark hair falling over his forehead. His che

oked

en I realized

f, panicking. "Stay aw

forward, eyes

Mate

e screamed

o

is can

d to him. To a

ooked down at my body... at the tattoos on m

d cold.

away. He

rived-dragging

his voice flat. "Throw

o his wolf and vani

-

ungeon. The smell of bloo

to Liam. "I shouldn't hav

"I came on my own.

trying to

door slam

and dragged us tow

as-on his thro

g," he said coldly.

our family," Liam sa

ruelly. "The old hag? She

dare you call her that

ed through

murderous. "You don't get to speak

he hell do you

of gasps. I

ened. "Fine. If you

rds. "Bring them to

lood drain f

-

fire torches. He sat on a high chair, legs

p," h

ked. "

heard

t of...

es

folded

e was expecting this. Th

g her

oor c

ere sh

an

l. Broken. But

picked up a knife, a

I'll strip

ed my clothes off, trying to c

me-his jaw

d at Liam. "Wh

art p

tell him

. my br

ed into a sat

said, walking slowly to

out anot

e knife int

sto

ees. Her lifeless body dropped beside me. I c

dn't

the dungeon," he

shattered

ything they

o

ue

rtl

.. he wa