ne's

ps. Thalia intoned the incantation in a tongue that I didn't speak, her words cresting and falling in waves on the sea

ath. "Let go of the old Selene. Stop

herever each drop fell on stone, the runes flared like tiny suns. Sadness shot up my arm, but it was not ju

lia as a warm wave surging in my direction, with centuries of power and knowledge at its center. Wit

stant. "The curse would take you

ony ripped its way through me. It was as if bones were moving and reconfiguring themselves, as if

the real

hing – marriage to Corwin, warm afternoons patching up pack members, quiet hours on the river where I'

how to see truth in a man's eyes, how to get at honesty by a word, how to see deceit and lies throu

reedy, fading away. "Don't fight to hol

available in this ritual. I could sense her recollections combining with mine – centuries of dedication to the goddess of the moon, of

bones became higher, my nose more pointed, my lips fuller. My dark auburn locks transformed into deep brown,

ld as the wind through dry leaves. "The goddess gree

ed within my veins. Icy fingers wrapped themselves around my heart, speaking to me in a breath of vengeance and annihilati

, my words husky. "I wil

bling but warm. "Keep this with you. When the power seeks

holy I could see it inside my eyes. Each rune, each etching, each glyph of ancient knowled

hen s

, though – I could feel its strength in my bones, its blessing like a mother's soothing

e as calm and timeless. Her white robes, streak

slowly. My whole body ached, but it was good

t your

ed through me instead of blood. If I curled my fingers, I could feel the pale silve

reathed. "Use it wisely. Save

ally worked? How do I

omething I had never seen before. Truth glowed around her like a halo of gold, warm and cle

of hope and love that had led her to this act. It was too much – not just

you," she continued. "I'm not going to

churn. The golden aura of her faltered and danced, letting the dishonest

y blurted out. "I really

will and focus. You can sense the motives of people's actions – lo

eside her. "What do I do now? How do I re

gy pattern of your wolf has been altered." Thalia's breath was growing shallow

r it. "Vera. It means trut

about. The Beta who wrongly accused you – his corruption is deeper than mere a

t fo

ves, wolves that don't belong on this world. Kane is bringing something t

ran cold.

Thalia held on to my hand with what little strength she had. "You have to stop him,

rson with these strange abiliti

lves. When you are ready, they will seek you out. Or you will seek them." Her gaze was weakening. "Bu

if these powers are not str

s dwindling into a whisper. "Never forget, child – truth always prevails in the end. I

who had instilled in me the will to fight, was going to die because of my

I wheezed. "F

when Kane is dead and your pack is safe. Tha

ve her body in a gentle breath. Thalia no longer existed, but her

nt – stronger, sharper, more acute. I was experiencing the life force of all the animals i

clear-cut: return to Crescent Pack, expose Kane's conspiracy, and save all those

center of the temple. Old magic sealed the door on her, where she would

t radiated under the light of dawn rising, painting the sky with pink and gold tones. It was be

e of two ancient oak trees, looking at me with eyes that sparkled like silver coins. He

, his voice as soft as velvet