a's

d me to was my personal training area, where other slaves of the light taught me how to harness the power flow

of terror clung to the colony like a mist. Pack members moved about with restless energy, glancing nervous lo

lves that had known me well would take some time to recognise me. My hair was longer and darker now, my face shape had shift

pack. Two young wolves I recognised, but who

siness," the t

e steady. "I heard your pack was having so

ess spreading among members of Crescent Pack. Wolves vanishing into inexplicable comas, others break

the second guard said, but I

Your pack healer is overwhelmed, isn't she? Too many patie

uietly, suggesting the possibility rather than forci

one said. "I will go

Kane's name, but I kept

trong Alpha presence, the elderly council members, the families I'd known since childhood. But underlying it all was s

settlement, I could see how many of the pack's members were ill. Pale faces, dark rings under t

oing on here," I to

for nothing. Others are violent,

eople say that it's a curse. Retributi

hey were being punished for killing an innocent wo

old

Alpha had her done away with." The

en right. Makes you wonder if m

n of events was being questioned by people, and that could be my adva

that had been expanded since I'd last visited. The old pack healer within was t

n she saw me. "Bless the goddes

lding out my hand. "I

with gratitude. "And bizarre is not quite

symptoms. Some were comatose so far down they would never respond. Others fought at restraints,

I inquired, even th

eading." Margaret slapped her hands on her apron, leaving stripes of exhaus

ad started to accelerate his agenda. The timetable coincidentally m

nces? Unusual deaths, peop

intended to mark the start of it all. And then the ca

froze. "R

ther his wife was really guilty." Margaret had a low voice. "Beta Kane

oubt Kane's story. That would be useful, but it also meant th

d the Al

id they'd been coerced into lying." Margaret glanced around nervously. "Folks are a

adow realm contamination – the comas, the flashbacks, the strange speech, all fitting what I'd learned durin

lers' quarters. I agreed, realising that I had to be insi

per senses guided me to where I'd felt the dark energy coming from previously. It led me to

egular intervals. Whatever was inside, Kane wasn't taking any c

rging with the shadows and slipping by the first guard. The skill still fel

with rings carved into the stone floor and filled with black liquid that stank of death. Candles made from what seemed t

oom's cage made

yes glowed with silver light, and dark things slithered beneath their skin as if alive. They'd bee

it?" a voice I recog

aglow with victory. He was thinner, paler than I remembered – dar

ontinued, stepping into the room. "I shall be able to

. "I'm just a travelling healer. I don't have

"Did you really think I wouldn't recognise you, Selene?

urned icy.

g for you since the old crone set you free." Kane moved closer, and I could feel the craz

frie

ld is weak, vulnerable, ready to be devoured by something larger." Kane motioned towards the possessed pack memb

ke

eir power extending over all the packs." Kane's smile was absolute

er be you

k energy. "This contains the concentrated power of shadow realm

ack, but there was nowhere to run. The crazed pack members trapped in the cag

take you. Let it show you how wonderful it

blew open. Corwin stormed in, surrounded by a band of his dev

om her, Kane!

actual surprise crossing hi

tual room, the pack members who were demon-possessed, the black

snarled. "What you were

murdered my brother. You used my wife. You've poisoned o

in his hand, its black light rising to wildl

oke, releasing a cloud of unadulterated shadow w

houted, bu

out his ankles like hungry tentacles. His eyes grew wide with h