the air thick with

val had ended, but the echo of what had transpired still clung to the air. The firel

. The curse was getting str

they al

een him struggle against something they couldn't understand. He had s

us. Fear could turn into doubt. And d

es pulled him from his thoughts. He d

ca

him, arms crossed. "You sh

didn't

a hand over his face. "You're

his jaw tight. "But I w

think this is a ga

a jolt through

a

r her, to claim what was his. But the rational

ed the bond," he s

it," Lucan shot back. "

iel

. It meant that deep down, Valencia wasn

ight, he coul

you're used to wolves obeying without question.

meet his Beta's gaze. "Yo

stare. "I think

Azriel's chest. "

want, but you can't growl away the truth. Valencia is the one wo

uscles ten

ruly saw him-the real

d sh

she

e another victim of the dar

ent ice throu

o get some rest.

ppearing into the trees. The weight of the ni

e moon, its glow s

l it demanded

ook what little c

-

Dr

ess was s

swirling like a living thing. He could feel them

ot resist

through the blacknes

this place. He had been here before-trapped in

erged from

was

black as midnight. Veins darkened with corrup

el." The other him stepped closer. "Why

his teeth. "I

w laughed

t y

e world

ick with sweat, his breaths ragged. The lingering presenc

face, trying to shake

s getti

er content with lurki

s pus

n't careful,