Marked by the Night Prince

e quiet that ni

. She had worked late again at the diner, wiping down tables until her wrists ached. The extra p

e, past the church with its crooked cross, three blocks to t

it used to

eavy, and the streets were empty. Too empty.

d behind h

she muttered. "Yo

from her mother: Don't sta

her lips. She texted bac

phone away

Like a shoe scra

llo?" she called out,

ans

head. It saved her a few minutes every night. Tonight, her gut told h

eetlight at the other en

moment. The air felt colder

ound. A s

gure was standing the

low, but his eyes glowed fai

you?" he said, voi

on't have anything you want,"

a kind smile. "I'm n

, faster than her eyes could follow. His hand

ered near her ear, "t

ody jolted as fire rushed through her veins. Her finger

inking

red and slowed. She felt herself falling

n's voice. And

go. Aria stumbled to the ground,

, fast, and glowing with golden eyes. A wolf.

rled. The w

nd fangs. Shadows tangled in the

ding. Run, her mind screamed,

ked on hers. It was huge, powerful, terrifying.

inst her shoulder. Heat spread through her s

ing burned into her,

deep and certain,

in

tand, another voice cut thro

's m

e silver wolf and the pale man colliding agai

dark