ra

m the one who's going to stop y

s confused as I was. Who was this ne

and for a moment, I saw doubt in his look. But it

spat, staring at me. "You

and they slowly withdrew into the da

my body shaking from the excitement. Luca was at

asked, his voice

sure if I was saying the

at me. "You're safe now," he said, his voice comforting. "B

I knew better than to question it now. We had been g

I said, my

ting to Luca. "Take care

understanding passing betwee

turned and disappeared into the f

there was no time to ask them-not yet. We had to keep

taking his hand aga

nged back into the forest, the

ca

ly beside me, her presence both disturbing and oddly reassuring. The stress between us was thick enough to cut with a k

finally asked, unable to

her voice low and guard

shot back, though the words fe

ttime critters. The forest was filled with danger, and not just from the hunts or monsters. I knew I had to

a. The moonlight broke through the forest above, leaving

," I said, stopp

her eyes narrowed with

g it out. The silver caught the moonlight, glinting as it da

quickly covered her response. "And

losely for any sign of recognition. "She told me it was important, that

of confusion in her eyes. "Your mother... she was hu

build inside me. "All I know is that she kept this pendant hidden for

ing something from a long time ago. "There's no way a human co

omething, something about your family. She mentioned the Bla

family... they were all killed when I was young. If your mother knew them, th

ike a crack in the armor she wore so well. I took a deep breath, decid

ke, her voice tinged with pain. "I remember fire. I remember screams. And I remember... I

was still fuzzy. "Did she say anything else? Anything that