l's

ike the cry of something long buried. I had known blood. War.

ken to me since

ike molten gold. That was not ordinary healing. That was something older. Something raw. And it terrified me,

of rain thick in the air. It would storm soon. Go

clicked

er here," Selene said quietly,

I asked wit

any

dgment. Once, I trusted Selene with every battle strategy, every piece of me that Ra

lves," I said. "Wh

ne snapped. "Blood magic is

it is time w

shut

shift in her scent. Fear. Not just of Raven,

d stories carved into stone. Memories flashed. I remembered the night I re

got ov

re

watched her

elled her on

ame into my fists durin

ething had always remained tethered. Now

t her door

le

d again.

th

ed the

ed by books and loose herbs, her eyes glowi

ust barge in,

ed to s

To remind me I am temporary? Or t

shut the door behin

nd

you to kee

me. "Do not ask me to

to become what

Your pack hated me the moment I stepped inside. Your council watches me

es not spe

use

the flash of guilt in her eyes,

subject. She lifted a worn leather-bound j

other died befor

knew about the bloodlines. She studied them. The

loser, hear

on eclipse would awaken the cursed marrow. That c

e. "You were born on th

no

wn, hand

. "But I think your curse is older than we th

deb

sed. Something was broken. Now t

thunder

jerked

hand on instinct

. "I cannot think strai

urmured. "I c

around us like a second heartbeat. Then Rave

up I h

es

s not

ha

s infe

wh

ted. "Not

e sky, illuminating

orest," she said. "To th

urns from t

eone else to s

"You know I canno

and moved to the door.

her into

. Past the wards.

the belly

ated in moss, the air thick with ancient magic. Raven slowed,

s it?"

poin

ar, in blood so old it loo

CALL

th wen

name here?"

d not

ifted her hand

it o

a d

a m

pths, something

th horror. Inside the altar, nestled in b

ten by h

ten

e I did no