a Lan

doesn't whisp

older than language burning into the courtyard with a precision that made my blo

h it all like silk on a blad

n the fire blooming inside my chest. It wasn't

ancient wa

ll of invisible force cracked the air and threw him backward like a rag doll. He hit sto

y voice sounded wrong. Lik

asn't min

ted, but I didn't will them to move. My fingers stretched,

stared like they

hite-robed one whispered

, but not out of fe

prophecy," he sai

claws dragged against the stone.

go," he

Alaric answered cal

d I don't know how or

real

ths he

sacrificed

inked into his bones. I saw my mother, standing over a b

my knees

en it

. The power faded,

scooped me into his arms like I was all that m

, and I'll gut you w

ill come to me willing

hey we

Alaric, the glo

am that le

to speak, but I couldn't find my v

in the hallway, a gash b

s answers

time," Domi

oaked. "I

. Then no

t seen before. It smelled like cedar and

, books with titles that looked

of the room. He pulled out a velvet

for you. Told me to giv

rappe

th symbols that matched the ones

hers?" I

c said. "And it only glo

" Elia

he dagger

glo

d us. One of the guards

man at the ga

frowne

... Isla Lane. Says s

d turne

he guard repeated, clearly shaken.

My voice felt like it belonged t

watched me with a stare so u

eone playing gam

he gate password. The one you said no

ft curse. A deep, guttural sound that sc

" I said. "Sh

nside me cracked. A small, painful

to me. "Do you

Yes...

ho the hell she i

didn't say a word. Elias flanked me silently. I held the bone dagge

gravel path in silver. And standing on the o

. Hernair dark like mine, threaded wi

re meeting for coffee and not crashing throug

. My knees threa

," I said. It came ou

low. "I was. Before t

that, the gr

his body half-shielding

I came because the bloodline's awakening will

eet stayed rooted. Her voice... it was familiar. Not in memory, but in my

rt talkin