a's

warmth tugging at her skin like silk sheets, but beneat

lara."The voice was close. Gentle.

were snap

nce, framed by pine needles and mis

er breath, then the ache in her chest, th

ext to it... still glow

a." A hand presse

k the

ir

ace drawn tight with concern. His silver-threaded hair fell

pushing herself up. The ground tilted

ide you. Something old." "Kalen?" s

m, and saw Kalen kneeling at the edge of th

eyes were locked on Mira...

r. "Elara," Kalen said, rising slowly, voice tight. "Stay behind

sig

o much. The curse is active. The mark is formed. And you," he look

l me," she said. He shook his head. "No. N

nchecked, it could bring ruin to ev

napped."I don't," he said softly. "But I

placing himself between them. "You'll have

each other down, one young, wounded, and f

a felt the crack i

is?" He looked at her. "Because I made a pro

ha

you to me. Told me to keep you hidden. Unawakened." He paused.

. She was on

er power consumed her. Drove her mad.

"You think lying to

Mira

. "Mira, please," she whispered. "Don't do th

is shoulder. Blood spray. kalen snarled, grabbed Mira by the w

n them before either

he air trembled. A pulse of moonlight rippled

wild, light fading from her skin. She looked at Mira, who sat against a t

known had shattered in a single night.

as deepening by the hour. And the f

she said, voice sh

ps. "Then go to the Moonwood," he r

ll you what

'd told you the truth," he whispe

yes c

need to move. More Bloodshadows will come."

Do we le

hesi

ll l

As they vanished into the forest, the

st the Moo

lash of silver fire, knoc

c bite through flesh and bone. It wasn't just p

dimmed, the cha

No Mira.

eneath a moonlit sky that

crescent mark on her w

t real," sh

it

rming symbols I recognized from my f

d quietly, "th

e, eyes wide. "

blood. For

to bleed, turning f

loser, "whatever happen

already sl

dy lifted from the ground, c

mbled with

ened again... they w

ters waiting in the snow, with silver eyes and blackened hands. An