na

ack. A shiver wracked my body, a purely physica

of a fire. I wasn't in the forest anymore. I was in a small, d

ce

the flickering flames casting long, menacing shadows across his perfect, terrible face. He

anged, quickening with a fres

gaze pinned me where I lay. It felt lik

he'd crushed in the forest-throbbed with a sickening, dull agony, a constant reminder that it was useless to me now.

ator blocking out the light. He moved toward me, each step s

. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice low and devoid of any emoti

ere tricks for lesser opponents. Against a man like Damien, a man who could kill me

rawing on the forbidden knowledge I'd gleaned as a Luna in my past life, I took the ultimate gam

cave crackled with his sudden, murderous rage. His

ngly helpless girl, to speak it aloud was an unforgivable tra

"I... know... how to control it," I chok

hesitated. The pressure eased just enough for me to speak. A sliver

or air. "Moonpetal," I rasped.

re lying," he hissed, his eyes narrowed with suspicio

gaining a desperate confidence. "It blooms only under the light of a full moon and has a scent like co

m pause. The sheer conviction in my voice ma

said, my voice steadier now. "Guarantee

ion. Then, a slow, humorless smile spread across his lips. It wasn't a smile of wa

his voice a low purr that sent a chill down my spine. "But if you're playing game

t like water. I slumped against the cave wall, m

it-a faint, distant rumbl

. My head snapped up, my expression changing. I knew that sound. It

he night wind, ano

ona, where

h

ent of pure, black hatred. My left hand clenched into a fist so tight my knuckles turned white. My right

hen, with a cold, knowing look that made my skin crawl: "The one you asked about in the forest. The one whose name you threw at me like a challe

my heart-was a fire that burned hotter than any fear. It was a dark, consuming flame that cauterized the paralyzing terror Damien

arily eclipsing my fear of the man before me. "Our deal has

ghts, a slow, predatory grin spreading across his face. He w

er his face and, with a movement so fast it was almost a blur,

ave entrance, grabbed a handful of dirt with my left hand, and smeared it on my cheeks. I tore at my already ripped dress with my tee

ath of the approaching flashlight beams