ingers tightened over her mouth, muffling

ronclad-unyiel

out wildly, but whoever held her barely f

er ear. "Shh... don't struggle, litt

le w

rough her, hot

rd, pulling her into the s

ed to focus, her mind screaming a

n, in a

somewh

e night sounds of t

y as a wave of dizziness cra

a dimly lit room. The air was thick with the

e stumbled, catching herself against a sleek black tab

ci

er with that same unnervin

rk wood carved with symbols she didn't recognize. Candles

blood r

I'd apologize for the abrupt trip, but-" He tilted his hea

enched into fis

ser. "Still so many questio

efore his fingers

irk widened

she snapped, her voice shaki

a long moment. Then, he spoke,

know what

stiff

rcling her slowly. "And you're certainly not just so

omach

ing just behind her. "But I smell something else. Someth

eath c

bout werewolves an

ice brushing against her

find out exactl

d in her ears. She ne

ed to make a br

eady there, bl

, fangs glinting un

stumbled back. Every nerve

s, his silver eyes gleaming with quiet a

reathed, forcing s

s head. "Now why

weapons. No backup. Kael

f all-Lucia

n't jus

didn't know wha

forward. "Tell me, Ari

d down her spin

eepened. "T

roat w

o

sn't po

wa

off as heat blo

ach. Her breathing hitched as something sh

e a predator studying

itching-like they wanted to sharpen. The

e b

her ears, drowning out

happeni

ing to force the sensation away

d her like silk. "You can't

d open. "I'm not a

e not." His gaze burned into hers. "Bu

sh shattered

exploded inward, sendi

ore through th

l slammed into him, sending th

ove!" Ka

ght up. She bolted toward the ruined

ng Kael back. "You're

unged, eyes burning gold,

th inhuman speed, twisting

ought his other hand up, claws

, but it gave Aria t

e

doors. Down a dark hal

he corner, a figure

. Red eyes

er va

tr

o a stop. Her

smiled-fan

mewhere,

he st

y had time

er eyes could track. Cold fingers clampe

to break free, but

lacing his voice. "Lucian was r

e he touched her. Not f

ushed through her veins,

mirk faltered.

a's core, sending a shoc

crashing into the stone w

ed, stumb

ust ha

g from the impact. He tried to rise-on

ld feel

nside her h

harp. The dim hallway suddenly felt too

mpire in f

e blood rushing t

ach twis

normal. This

choed fro

a

, but his golden eyes locked onto

s roar followed

ord stepped into view. His silver eyes burn

. He grabbed Ari

s, their footsteps echoing against the sto

ening to me?

't answer

courtyard, the cold nigh

ee

nd they step

s dropped from

vam

re surr

te. His smirk had returned, but this time-

Lucian murmured, watching

o fists. "I don't know wh

rk deepened.

ed in front of her. His voice was l

it, do you, wolf?" He tilted his head

tched as Lucian'

's m

erupted