pte

eline

feels like a

old in my lungs as I walk to school. My hands shoved deep in my pockets to hide the sha

f is nothing but a whisper now. Sometimes I think I hear her breathing fa

after another. Because if I st

s feel like background noise to a nightmare I can't wake from. They don't see m

too bright. The laughter too loud. And I'm trapped i

ck it up the room tilts sideways. Professor Kane's voice fades in and out like a

ll rings I

. I look up and find him standing by my desk. Concern cre

t something inside me is dying. But my th

ne." I

nced. "Perhaps you sh

hat's wrong with me. There's no medi

sor Blackwood would like to see you after sc

ispered in the hallways. A woman who teaches the up

s softly. "She sai

ng feels "important

itting down. The world comes and goes in flashes. At lunch I don't even bother entering the cafeteria. I can't watch Ronan. Can't

d rests against the cool surface of the desk. I focus on bre

long enough mayb

voice is faint now. Slipping further away each hour. The thought of losing her

sitting too long. I drag myself out of the chair and into the hallway. E

r is cracked open. Golden light spilling into the dark

ock

." A voi

s. Stuffed with books and jars filled with strange things I can't name. Crystals hang from thr

urving her lips. Her hair is streaked with silver though her

how the sound of my name mak

o drained

tly. "Tell me, child. How long have yo

es. "You... you

ks. "The Nightbane family has used that cursed artifact for generations

like ice wat

ost. Do it long enough and the bond severs permanently.

tens. "Can it

tbanes have perfected this kind of cruelty. T

mber but still alive. "Why

e replies simply. "And because most people no l

ou do.

e air in the room thickens until every breath tastes lik

mble on their shelves. I grip the

t human."

you, my dear.

hing inside me twist

been waiting to solve. "Tell me, Evange

when I was little. Uncle Marcus raise

"And your wolf. How did sh

was always there but... soft. Almos

ought so." She moves back to her desk. Pulling open a dr

stutters.

al filled with swirling purple liquid. It glows faintly in the candlelight. "The silencer didn'

he vial. "Wh

e's control for a few hours. Long en

licate. Like it holds both

" I ask. Because t

akens she may not want to sleep again. And if she's as powerful as

my wolf i

em." She says simply. "Th

ightens. "W

a. "Because I've seen too many girls like you crushed under that family'

he air from my lu

wolf. She died protecting s

e floor seems to ti

hild ever came to me I'd make sure she lived lo

d me. "Drink this, Evange

glass hums faintly under my finger

ith a grim smile. "Aw

ning. Metal. Wildflowers. Fills my lungs. My heart

s no going back." She

m

cafeteria. His voice dripping disdain as he rejected me in front of eve

hisper. "I

I dr

y chest. My body convulses. The world disappears in a blinding flash

Thick suffoc

died. Then I hear it. A gr

hispers in my mind. Smooth

ves. The air vibrates with a deep primal hum. My bo

nymore. She's ancient

e faint thread that connected me to

breath. The vial lies shattered beside me. Professor Blackw

urs. "Moon help us all.

with silver light. My heart pounds and for the first time

ar her."

isten well, child. Because the Nightbanes will

me like frost. I shoul

le. Sharp. Ti

t t