en'

the first th

the spine, dragging him upward, backward, int

d weight. The curse inside him cur

d

cen

and

ay that made hi

ming. The world was a blur of root

was clear. Crystal-clear. Her h

smelled like rain and wildflowers an

truly. The Moon Godless ha

is chest like a second heartbeat. It

ouche

olted throu

se surged in

o

on the heat clawing

o

recoiled,

't blam

fit to be

it to be ne

lacked out. Not yet. Not now.

ds with their poisoned blades and bl

e still

what she was. "What's your

he said, voic

ar

rophecy. She had no idea what

again, and she caught his arm. Her to

burning,"

need

ed to la

lpha? Still... her voice di

aos. Like cold wa

stay here,

will

h

Hun

trees like she suddenly understood just

eone, she said quick

a he

n wi

isted somet

ld m

mag

But he didn't have a choic

fight, and the curse was

der his arm, try

ry last shred of strength to kee

. Her scent wrapped around him li

asn't jus

e. Something ancient.

w how he knew

nt others would too. They stumb

d painted the leaves. The cursed mar

id not

arrying him, even as f

ds were

ath cam

e did n

have left him d

d, reveal a clearing lift

od at its heart, smoke rising f

ters. Bones strung over the

rded

owled

aid quickly. "Please. Just

d open before t

, wrapped in a cloak of ash-gray wool

face c

o

his

ira." You should be dea

ed. "You know him?" "Inside," Mir

N

ot, his jaw clenched as Mira began to mutter and lay out

rried, mira did not look at h

Kalen like he was

d in and out as t

he curse. rising, falling, tr

his hand once when he tre

ate bond, new and raw, wrapped around his soul like iron. T

enough. A howl. Deep c

"They have found me," he growled. "

om skin, his eyes glowing brighter than fire. She was beautiful

the hunters emerged, sn

uld'v

e me rose, a hum under m

on my wri

eting the first wolf mid-air

n't loo

ers turned to m

e," he hissed. "She c

bl

round cracked behind me. A surge of sil

one f

es wide. "What d

oked

had marke

earth, something an