o Stormfang t

little and watched her with suspicion, as though she might ignite into fire at any

ng at the sky. The rivers ran fast and cold, filled with foam and jagged stones. Birds fell silent when wol

re, but she kept walking because stopping wasn't an option. The fire inside her hadn't

finally parte

. At its heart rose a fortress of black stone, jagged and imposing, its towers stabbing at the sky lik

ang te

at her expression. "Welcom

rted. "If you

glowing with suspicion as they caught sight of the newcomers. The gates

, weapons gleaming in the torchlight. Everything about this place screamed strength and br

n she f

k and suffocating, heavy as thunderclouds. The guards stiffe

as c

ha of S

asily, flickering as though recognizing some

n he ap

en D

ngs of shadow. His hair was dark as midnight, cropped short, his jaw sharp enough to cut stone. But it was his eyes that froze her i

berate, claiming the ground as his. When he rea

e fixed

er in place, stripping her bare, seeing every weakness, every secret. For the fi

deep, rough, carrying like distant th

sounded like moc

catching herself just short of falling. Her hood

courtyard. Her irises still g

oser, his presence pressing against h

voice carried to every ear. "Did the Goddess

et his eyes. "I didn't steal anything. The

The silence stretched, thick as sm

, dangerous, the smile of a wolf abo

you had lied, I would have

yra's stomach twisted, but the fire in her v

icked to the gua

Alp

id le

ing to the gate. Lyra was left standing

oging every detail. "You smell of fire," he murmured, more to himself

a said, though her vo

, colder this time

faint scar cutting through his brow, the shadow of stubble on

ial. You are not sacred. You are not untouchable. If the Goddess ma

lmost without thinking, she lifted her chin. "Maybe that's why

fted uneasily, glancing between them with wide

en Kaelen laughed-a low, dangerous s

an your claws, girl," he said.

ound. Break her if you must. If she survives, she's mine to deal with. If she dies

ard, cracking his knuckles. Lyra's stomach clenched, but the fire

spark in her eyes, then turned and strode

Warriors gathered in a ring. The

not just a pretty fla

, but beneath it was something else-heat, power, a wolf sh

gaze, and for the first time in her life,

I'm

e warrior lunged, Lyra felt it again-the howl insi