Araksa opened

a harsh command, the wagon jolted to a stop. She was unable

ing next to her u

her wrists, he ordered, "D

leep deprivation, and her mouth was dry. It had been at least two days of travel. She

door creaked open,

anced in the

a castle, it was a fortress. Everything was hard and cold. Sharp towers rose like claws

eren't

thers were halfway, like the ones who had captured her. All of

es follo

sity. Others wi

t dare meet

soldier at h

doors behind her slammed sh

as in

e Kingdom

eel, and old stone. She passed cages-real cages with bones still lying inside. She passed other prisone

here. No light. On

t was warmer here, but not in a comforting way. The warmth ca

er to a stop in the

clinked loudly

ame th

eep. A

it sat a man. No-something more. His body was broad, his presence heavy like a sto

ned fo

"This is the girl who

anything," Ra

. "But you shifted under

hing. She was

shoved her

" said one. "She ha

hat means!" Rayne cried.

od. His steps echoed as h

, he knelt down

ow?" he said

ook. He smelled li

. "They never told me anything. I

. "You were n

ooked

ens to Moonbloods who

dn't a

y're hunted. Or w

iting to explode. You brought death to your own door

The rest of the room was drowned out by the sound of her hea

was a

r-cold, bitt

d. "You carry ancient blood in your veins. You're pa

k to be part

the moon chose you. And that

t her sto

mistake,"

r to the holding chambers. The Council w

ut

barked t

were deep b

h silver-threaded stone. Silver burned her skin if she got too close to

er knees, Rayne s

heavy. Her thoug

id they call her Moonblood? Why did ever

ght of t

bl

e before the f

eath h

g inside her was locked tight. She was una

very ex

alo

en

rom the n

the ne

ifted h

emale voi

Rayne m

is you

.Ra

pa

the voice. "You

nked. "Pa

thing. Just... you're

re you

l," Lira said.

ost smile

ed. "You shifted un

en nodded, even tho

es

e. The prophec

ned. "What

a didn'

e fell

head against th

osed h

hurt. But worse than all of that was the fee

through a door she

de... was the monst