The Hidden Luna of Blackmoor Valley

ia'

came out

flying to my face. I did not need a mirror to know a red mark was already blooming across my skin

h fury. Blonde hair perfect. Pale blue gown flawless. But her eyes were w

you did,"

. I saw

ed bump I would never have noticed if sh

of Shadowfang arrives. You did this. It's all because of

years ago that silence was safer t

Alpha is coming, you ca

N

you looking a

red my

only one that usually ended the conver

blanket, or the right to sleep indoors. I had learned to weigh every sentence before allowing it past my teet

steppe

int floral note that seemed designed to co

not to leave unless someone orders you to. If the Alpha asks whether

tightened a

u unde

es

. "Good. You ar

leaving the storage-room

mained on t

trembling, and the skin beneath my cheek had already begun to swell. It would turn purple before ni

stood before the cracke

ack at me was the

h soap and rarely brushed. My eyes appeared smaller than they were, my skin duller, and t

d that

cause it was a lie I had been f

er chain resting against my skin. The small stone hanging from it wa

he chain around my n

en five

e curtains, and the heat had grown so fierce that I could barely keep my eyes open. She kn

harm before your twentieth

haken as she fa

see you. Keep wearing it,

oward the back door and

er seen h

-year-old child could have set fire to an entire house. They called me cursed, said my mother had sacrificed herself beca

wrong abou

wrong abou

rn part of me that had refused to let her become a memory. She was

ed until my twe

would leave Cresswood. Then I would f

k sounded a

a servant who expected immediate obedience. Whoever sto

that

shut it behind her. Her hair was loose, her cheeks were flushed, and she

ieve what I heard

he cracked mirror. "You should

tightened. "Celeste

was u

not make it

s it pre

h there was no one on the other side of the door.

toward he

eleste to him, and everyone in the househol

about Celeste's

care about

re urgent

lar. She was the only person in Cresswood who knew what the

wo days lef

kno

this is not

n had begun to lighten the gray sky, and the first ser

do you

ly across her chest. "The guards have been doubling the patrols, and Marta told the kitch

ned of losing contro

e the same t

but the warmth beneath my

lia. Whatever Vivienne is planning, sh

nts me near t

ed the servants to d

e me loo

ce had los

corridor. She released me and moved toward the back wall, wh

I whis

the door just as t

red withou

e door and back again, although she

ate for th

w

plain. Com

e I could finish

elay the punishment, but Piper's warning

mother's charm had begu

ars, I wondered whether my mothe