s silent agai

and old magic. The pool at the center of the shrine still glowed fai

thrumming beneath her skin -

was his hea

dor. "You said the

nching. "I said it could be

de her. "You tric

aved

yours?" she spat. "Ho

ie, I die. The Moon can't use one of us against the

er head. "Yo

quietly. "But you

and guilt, fury and something else neither dared name. T

could feel the life in every branch, every gust of wind. When she clos

sped s

ticed. "Wh

ed. "Not just the surface - the energ

," he said. "The power

he part of the Goddess yo

es

ded. "And if i

. "Then you won't

through her

harply. "Then we fi

d once.

ks. Eryndor started a small fire while Lyra cleaned her blade, trying to ignor

his heartbeat, his pain, even his exhaustion.

g that," s

ng w

ing so

hed his lips. "You

led. "Ap

ce. For the first time, he looked almost human - tired

" he said quietly. "The Moon feared what you

oftened. "And

und to her will - the same

"Is that what this

said finally. "This o

eeks warming. "Don't mis

ldn't

the silence with its soft rhythm. Outs

aint hum at the edge of heari

r feet, sword in

owed. "Not soldiers

laws. A figure emerged from the darkness - tall, clo

the Moon," Er

ran cold. "

t creation," he sai

oing through the clearing. "Huntre

nt. "Tell your Goddess she'

raised a ha

it, Eryndor moved, slamming his palm into the ground. Silver lig

Lyra hit the earth hard, pain flaring through her body - an

pain was his

shouted, push

blood on his lip, eyes bla

a cha

lver fire, cutting through the shadow's form, while E

shaking the forest. "You cann

eeth. "Then I'll u

ghter than ever before - and a beam of silver ligh

t, everythi

a sound like shattering stars

r knees. The power drained from

stant, his hand on her shoulder

p, trembling

but every time you use h

oze. "Y

where you

hit like ice. "T

this time, she won't send sh

ard. "Then we fa

faintly.

't sleep

ars through the branches. The world felt fr

s from her, silen

If she kills us both.

eflecting in his golden eyes

on't want another life. I wan

, his hand finding hers. The

ean something,"

r. There was only the heat of his hand, the echo of his heartbeat,

then let go. "Tomorrow," s

dded. "And

ming until it was nothing but a shadow of it

Lyra realized someth

sn't losing

giving i