? And love, what is it but the courage to

_

beach. It poured its silvery light upon the cliff-dwelling cottage,

to penetrate the storm seething in her blood. Her bones ached. Her skin tingled. Her breath was clipped

t warned

ped around him like a lover, its saltiness tickling his hair. He hummed-a low, mo

ody j

lengthened into fangs for an instant. Her

he fire, knocking over a

nstantly, kneeling

ose," she hissed, he

didn't

her, placing his palm

away. "You don't kno

whispere

ails-claws now-scraped against his wrist. He didn't flinch

so many years ago. A lullaby she'd never known she'd lear

ent s

, held back like a tide t

t," she whispered

man in me," Anacobal said, brushing

remaining on hers. Merbel's

"You saw it. The transformation. The fangs.

se you did not scare me.

between them-old, primal, gentle. It pulsed

. "You mentioned there was

s. Beyond light. There are cities of glass and cora

on her chest,

oonlight. The tem

reamed of it. Last night. I he

ce impassive. "Th

y for

for the

d. She took it, still trembli

led, still roiled by the storm, but s

water. "One of land and sea. Of wolf and wave. Of the M

heart racing. "Yo

w it's

o. I'm no chosen one. I'm barely holding

e the bridge. That's why your wolf listens

he breathed. "W

the wind. The moon halted on the harsh lines

her attempted to,

cold. "You

eared. But yes. I knew her. Sh

with

"A man who betrayed her. Who was afr

ng, sharp

cracked. "Tha

se you're still alive. Still opting for mercy. Sti

breath fogged the air. The hori

f I'm strong en

u a

ide again, finge

e strong

h wash over her. The prophecy. The pa

rs touched. N

ntertwined. N

from fear. From something else.

this is between u

"But it feels. old. Like we've been

t. Their breath mingled. Bu

overed, frag

ed against the cliffs.

ed away, he

thing. But he st

otionless, while two broken pieces b

___