el ended

mountains, where the trees grew tall and dense, and the ground under her was hard and frozen, yet the

was

she th

s were shaking. Her arm still bled from the arrow wound. As though her bones

ared at it till her breath caught in her throat. Her skin ting

begged. Pleas

er first transformation had been wild, painful. She didn't

t r

s thickened. Snow crunched under her feet. Somewhere b

. Feet crunchi

found t

branches and ducking low. She just needed to ke

as a hint o

e not ordina

nto a small clearing,

la

hit her

Pain exploded in her ribs. The air had le

d from the tree

slashed across her shoulder. She screamed, the sound sharp an

he saw

ed into the moonlig

ver seen. Eyes glowing silver. Their armor was black,

fed the air and

he growled. "Her s

d, backing away. "I don't

He was behind her b

r neck. Not tight enough

t h

twisted but it was no

ething sharp

eed

a d

nds, her bo

sion b

whispered. "

out. Her bod

of the chains they fastened arou

g her was the last thing she

onster.

were colder t

e in da

tled when

fs of black iron held her in place, and the ch

a prison wagon. The ceiling above was made of steel bars, and out

taking her

er

pain shot through her shoul

ide of her was

mly observed her. He was short, dark-haired, armored, and

ed" he

low. Not ang

ains would permit, Rayne pushe

are you?" with a

. You don't n

you want

"You changed under the full mo

of

Moonb

flin

ut it felt familiar. Like s

not..." but he

ou killed. Don'

"I didn't wish to cause harm to an

snapped. "You think the world

m. "So why didn

oked

id. "But the Command

s hear

"I am not a monster. I grew up in a

g a folded cloth from his belt. He dipped

y, teeth bared.

You're b

let him press the cloth

ou take me?"

Arak

ever hear

... a

dn't

on his jaw. His hands were rough. He didn't look cruel but he

s in A

y. "And maybe your death.

went

t request this. I was unwilling to change.

t her

id again. "The moon doe

mbled throu

r. Her head was full of inquiries. Why had she changed? What was Moonblood? Why were

irred in her again-d

emo

arn

idn't

at something inside

would never be