edroom staring at a

n you're leaving you

t Silverwood. But she couldn't just leave with nothing. S

here months ago and she'd never given it back. It still smelled like him. Li

refully and plac

k at t

in?" Her mother's

ea

he'd aged ten years in the last hour. Her

gs. Basics. Toiletries.

small pile

ghtstand. Her and Miguel at homecoming. B

bring

ing whatever makes y

ag. She added her phone charger. A journal she'd barely writ

g will I

. It depends on how fast you learn control. Some stu

ea

is intense. They don't let students

. "What if I can't learn control?

strong. You're smart.

strong. I fe

o a hug. "I know. But you're braver

shoulder. She wanted to cry. But the tears

ll people wh

ools. Special program out of s

about

lled back. "W

. He saw the mark.

has to. It's safer for

and. He'll think

man relationships don't usually survive this. The distance. The secrets. T

led in Luna's

want to l

ou might not h

ck. Quieter

's voice from

ijo," her m

eked around it. He'd been cryin

really

nod

you comi

't kno

ming back, righ

ope

round her waist. "I don't want you to go. Y

know. I don't want to g

hy

omeone. And I'd never forgive myse

rt us. You're no

hings complicated. I need to

d up at her. "Promise yo

ise I'l

ot the sa

est I can d

the back of his hand

ighed. "He does

her d

erwood. Once you meet others li

looked pathetically small. Her

er said. "You should go downstai

e stairs. Her father stood in the living room looking

he said without turni

rea

e mark appeared. They resp

the door. Her hand

I'm s

es were wet. She'd never

be okay. You're an Eclipse. We've s

t? What if I ca

t give up. Ever. No matter how h

no

ght. Then he let go and stepped bac

k at t

shor

were

mark flared bright enough

r opened

. Both tall. Both dressed in dark clothes. Both w

pse?" the

es

essor Ashwood. We're from Silverwoo

n't think I h

't. Get

. It felt heavier now. Li

ai

behind her. M

iving room and the kitchen. His hair was messy. H

to her. Before s

d at Luna's father. "T

ther n

s stepped out

bed Luna's hand. The one without

ow I reacted. I was scared and

s ok

and I ran. That's not what y

gue

er cord with a silver charm dangling from it. "I bought this for you. For your b

A crescent moon with

beau

graved. Look

rds were scratched into th

ys y

ed you to know something. This doesn't change how I feel about you. Distance doesn't change it. Time doesn't

her neck. The charm settle

I'll see you agai

it. However l

t have to

ause you're wor

Soft and quic

k, tears were runn

mething stupid like

ying. Her father had turned back to the w

fessor Thorne and Professor

street," Thorne said. "Not a ca

way. She didn't look back. If sh

ty except for a vehicle p

it wasn

a car

black cab and two massive horses stamp

idding,"

ransportation," Ashwo

d velvet seats. Small lanterns hanging from the ceiling. I

d in after her. Thorne ra

age lurch

ouse rolled past. Miguel stood on the lawn

aved

street disappeared. Th

Thick and dark. The road

e we?" Lu

," Thorne said. "The in-betw

g does i

d be hours. Could be minutes.

he charm Miguel gave her pressed aga

osed h

. The horses' hooves created a steady r

rustled in

apped open. "W

what?" Ash

he forest. Like s

shwood excha

forward. "Already? Your senses a

that

on't start sensing the forest unt

is time. Something keepin

ce to the window. The trees were too th

y. "Rogue wolves. Forest spirits. Creatures tha

we

as protections. Nothing can

if we

'd have

ultiple sources now. Coming

ned. The mark pu

lowing us,"

The forest watches. Especially w

sh b

rything in these woods can sense power. A

close Luna could hear breath

back from

er until we re

ard. Don't look directly at anything in the tre

't been p

d it, she couldn't st

in the trees

os

low