e, but Aria sat wide-eyed on the

lf had

im-black as the night, eyes like smoldering gold. His eyes had he

rds, no motion. Only exist

er collarbone st

e great room. The coals in the hearth emitted faint orange light. The others

er hands around the warmth. Sudde

on str

but not before sh

rn wall. And in the center of it all, him-the Wolf King, kneeling with one hand p

her chest. She ga

t out. The v

hing was

r-like pattern now on her skin-small, curling

e forest had

tying her hand in

Seer had spoken of? Some ancient magic

it. But her body, her drea

d the moon

d she a

on her hand was gone-

nd. Villagers rushed hither and yon, readying for the final night of the

ri

nched. "I heard the elders," she breathed. "They

eart fel

the only one she touched when she

to mean anythin

late for that,

rumble swept through the village-l

ickens flapped. The bak

, no

oked toward

thing

She knew that noise.

s a t

a th

ia went alone to

before she could e

walls. The Seer sat cross-legged by a basin of silver water; her veil

eer said without turning. "

eping her hand wrapped.

King has beg

I haven't agre

eek permission, chil

panted. "I can still

When the dreams rouse you? When your blood burns

ed. "Then what am

t magic stirs in you, too. You were born under the light of the pr

in ripples. She saw herself... walking deeper into the forest, her

r, a great bla

as p

as f

back. "No. T

r smile

t y

window of elder grove, but Aria

sic was played. Laughter echoed. But she cou

the trees. A hoot re

d into t

her body warmed, as

-mov

wolf. Shadow-clad, gold eyes burning. His form tr

Aria

Wolf

eath c

eak. He merel

ied out. Run. Call

eet staye

one step

his head-sl

ished in

bling, breath fo

hand throbbed

by cand

rm no longe

d arr