a's

learing. His control had nearly snapped, his wolf clawing too close to the surface,

lood was humming, my heart thrumming with something older than fear, older than reason. That night I made a

olves, but because of something deeper, something spoken only in half-breaths by the elders. They said a place of

nst my legs as I reached the old archway, half crumbled, vines choking its frame. Symb

I pressed my hand to the stone. It w

seam of light cracked through its center. My breath caught as ancien

red beneath it-like old magic waiting to be stirred awake. I clutched the lantern I had s

aintly in the dim light. But it was the books that stole my breath. Shelves upon shelves of them, bound in

nto its center, pulsing faintly like a heartbeat. My fingers brushed it, and the

returns to us. T

ed, my breath shallow, yet a strange compulsion pushed me closer again. The w

lood and soul. Of destruction if that bond was ever broken. My skin prickled

l bleed. Only together

in that instant, I knew-I was bound to him. Bound t

broke th

the flame licked higher. I turned sharply, heart poundin

le

antern light, his jaw tight, his

voice was low, dangerous, thoug

to my chest. "I cou

nized the place. He stepped closer, each stride carrying

ng through my fear. "Not for me? Then

but only for a moment before the mask sli

cause I was not meant to know the truth

s more telling

iestess blood. Of bonds that cannot

eatures, gone as swiftly as it came. "Knowing doe

the fury swelling in my chest. "And what am I to you, Ka

is hand shot out, gripping the book, though his fingers brushed

ou do not understand what it mea

using to let go. "The

into mine, silver and wild. For a heartbeat, I thought he mi

pped the book

aid, his voice final, cold. He turne

wed at my throa

rn slipped from my grasp, crashing to the ground. Flame leapt to

on ancient words. Smoke rose, choki

g me away from the growing blaze. His arms closed around me, iro

oed through the walls, as if something deeper had awakened. Symb

it, fury in his voice. "You ha

something. The walls themselves seemed to bre

nd us, sealing the flames with

split the night-deep, monstrous, not b

ed, his eyes wide, his bre

ce was raw. "You h

awakens a monstrous, ancient force