pte

ra'

The moonlight created sharp shadows over his face as the wind scream

lazing with something between sorrow and w

y heart turned against me, beating at the sight of him standing so near ye

ring presence was a blend of warmth and danger that made me want to sprint straight forward

I was here previously. I joined this craziness the instant you sa

ch my cheek, but his fingers curled into a fist and stopped inches away. " Lyra, I cann

in his comments thaw the ice in my heart. But Zane's treachery a

e almost heard over the wind. "We should be a team, Thorne. But

fiercely. "I was trying to keep you safe," he said, his voice faint now, n

had erected. "I'm not afraid of danger, Thorne," I responded with a

, seizing my hand and putting it up against his chest. Though under his strong and con

adows surrounding us appeared to change as the woodl

ething's wrong,"

ame stiff right a

land seemed to be holding its breath itself. A deep

remarked, "The

ough I already knew t

subord

oriented. As Thorne stood before me,

e shouted, his voic

g you," I said,

His eyes flaming, he turned to stare at m

first," I said, setting my jaw. And

nd beast, with razor-sharp claws and brilliant crimson eyes. Moving quicker than I could have

fierce, additional monsters surf

aned, his voice twisted

ds, I grasped a branch n

those of predators playing with their prey. As I swung the b

yelled, terro

" Adrenaline pounding t

orward. Its eyes fixed on me with an intelligence

a deep, strange voice. Surren

corpse, his fur bristling as he

d and nasty look. "That is

er what was occurring. Roots sprung from the gro

ropped the branch, th

aid, desperatio

yet. Trying to release him with m

rne continued, "Let her go

y head and wept.

ead and started to grin

ws grabbing for my throa

arating from the roots just before the creature's claws bru

the beast caught my final sight

n my neck caused pain, I could still clearly see the violent struggle unfolding before me. Thorne, in hi

above a whisper. Try to get

g through the air. Hissed, Wilder, you are squandering your power; i

lear. His teeth burrowing into the creature's shoulder, he leaped powerfully to p

heart stopped; his smile was icy as the evening surrounded us. He w

oice full of contempt. But Thorne, she wastes it on h

wolf form stilled and his ears flattened.

ergy whirled about him, a tornado of shadows casting even more glo

myself to sit up. "Leave him alone, Zane," I replied,

You believe you are the one I should want? His eyes swung t

pond. The shadows sprung out like chains, encircling him. Thorn

cried and pulled

e emerged from the tumult, but i

w more pronounced. Lyra, your actio

my head. The shadows grew closer to Thorne, and for

and I understood shockingly