hina'

new apartment, and he ha

long, quiet sigh of relief rise in my ch

ine. Compl

disapp

oking. We ordered pizza, and by the time

ckout curtains, I realized I had slept well for the firs

ould bury

all I had to do was follow instructions, play t

rced from

us-between our fa

lives would be co

cks. I didn't belong to any pack yet, but this place

I hadn't really f

were enough

hor-I'd made a bit of money from

ng I was worthless.

oor. He was already dressed in the ti

g, Mom," he

pered, smoothing his

, squaring his small should

ew, his courage faltered. His knuckles wen

sting my hand on his ten

and my heart cracked. "We... we didn't get to say

d me like a silver

ine for me-but for Daniel, he had lost his fav

e, sweetheart," I whispered, my voice trembling. "And right here." I tapp

tightness in his small frame

ea

at was all the s

out of the

lies from neighboring territories, and a scattering of human business associates who had k

lty. My mother's head rested on Ethan's

arms opened wide as we approach

who carried the Blackthorn

s small body swallowed by her black lace dress. That left o

hatred there hadn't faded. As I sat down, she subtly shifted away, th

nted me. My gaze drifted through the chapel-only to

lackt

d a commanding silhouette besi

e watching her and pressed

lackthorns had refused to accept me. To them,

pt hers. Now she looked at me with a cold satisfaction that to

amily name had final

m hand slipp

tween Celeste and me, a tiny, defiant barrier between two world

h from this brave little boy who shou

filled the air, signaling

, I told myself. I co

o Celeste-her timi

the entir

tossing handfuls of dirt onto Father's

away, only Daniel and I remained,

she approached, her voice sugary and f

I shot back. "So stay out of my way, u

k away quietly this time?" Her voice dropped to a venomous whisper. "Ten years, Seraphina. For ten years, you toyed with

grave, I nearl

su

oyalty, Kieran's heart. None of it had ever truly

idn't n

a hand to my chest in mock fear. "Ar

apped as she turned away. "Because no one wi

feigned grief and coll

she flashed me a sl

brave boy-always standing between me and the w

swelling. Daniel was worth m

dy t

o Dad," Daniel said, a

rave, my heels sinking into the

halfway across the ceme

fternoon was still, br

ams. Shadows with teeth burst from the

ni

rough the chaos, his name a

lood dripping from his fangs. Across the clearing, Kier

looke

e eve

ter witho

without

asy t

ues saw

igure crept closer, nostrils flarin

tore through the din

ight slammed

raked

e world spinning, dirt an

bove me, snarling, fetid

is wa

would die here-on my

My shoulders burned like fire, hot liquid running down my

od who would listen-just l

ogue

se around my throat, a blur o

ones shattered. The beast was

ered in front of me, its hackles raised, fangs b