nd painting at the same time with sweat all over my body. My hands trembled and cl

n, I said

t I was looking for. Then the moonlight st

erywhere seemed calm and quiet-there was no smoke, no fog

h, realizing it was

that had f

he. I touched my stomach as I was trying to reassure mysel

, "I whispered again, but th

ter I heard a k

s Majesty has summoned you to the Gathering Grounds. Your ceremonial garment

or her, and she cam

rn. It shimmered in the moonlight, made of silver fabric that looked like a woven star. Its color w

ected there. My once dull brown hair now shimmered with silvery streaks. My eyes glowed

shame no longer existed. This is now

uards followed me on both sides, and in silence, they escorted me down

ear, a sign of

them with banners waving high in the wind. Elders stood at the front, warriors

as a wave of silence am

r itself held its b

murmured to thems

that

same again, s

s so diff

watch, then let them watch fully. Let them see what happens when a gi

steps. "Lila of Luna, reborn and

g to bow, already irri

unite bloodlines once fractured." The Blood Pa

l, Evan step

kipped whe

His raven hair was neatly laid back, and his eyes, those same

immediately. But he

was a stranger he cou

under his breath when he g

here was a need for that, and I

moments. "Lila, about

g what we must do, remember? This seems

loser, but I ref

u," he whispered.

hated that part of me

eep them there. "This marriage i

ped his hands, and the ceremonial fi

et the packs witness the reuni

aking it. His skin was warm-too warm that my

eremony fu

Old laws, older than any of us, spoken in ancient tongues fi

der to shoulder, somethin

face-like tha

e

nted, but Ev

il

quickly, pulling

never failed, and I knew so

er etched in runes. "The binding req

's palm first,

r the fire, the flames

e pack gathering, almost like t

r some moments befor

"The bond begins, and

ed-not from the bond,

new that somet

rough one of the gates with some

rowed eyes, motioning th

ack," he said. "The village at

it can't be true, I scr

the warriors gathered. Within minut

d my arm. "

to tell me what to d

ing. "Where exact

wned.

e there, and I need to

ng time, then nodded. "N

ees b

where Mariya an

steadying me with both hands.

parted t

into the arena, b

he gasped. "A baby wrapped in a Moonveil c

blunt, and ever

a small blue cloth

ized it

Leo's b

orld became blank

n I col