BENEATH THE MOON'S BITE

U

ping mouth of stone, and I

shadows, all around, on ledges and balconies c

he firelight, watching me in complete silence. They s

ide circle drawn in pale, glowing dust. T

t outside the circle. He was a bi

with lunar ash." he s

moon's power will answer, you will make the ash glow with your own lig

of cold, white moonlight shone straight down, inching slowly acr

beat its way out of m

me and do nothing, that was t

the bond clearly in here, with so many othe

I saw

Caleb walked in, looking pleased with himself, a

a

d his face, but his head was high, his eyes scanning

g silver knife, not at his throat, but restin

tside the ring of watching rogues, he

and he

readable. "The Alpha son is here to witn

his voic

sides, I tried to look confused and weak, I let my sh

closer, but the ash

es, a low murmur

kay, I tried to tell him with

shook his head, just once.

knew what de

ed the outer edge

contact, the ash di

of cold flame. A wave of energy slammed into me. It was the moon's power, pure and

felt like hooks in my bone

Kael called out. "It will pull

sical. It was deeper. It was in my sou

d kept so still, began to churn viole

t back, the circl

, a faint, unstable silver light flickering under

aned forward, a col

oked out,

it, I tried to shove the power

ring myself in two. A scream ripped from my th

of pain and frustration

power out, and I would pass the

holding him, the bond strained and muffled, suddenly screame

id

but through the sheer force of his will, hi

ET

o fail for him. He

beam hit

ircle's pull became all-con

deals and threats. I thought of Rafe. Of the bond. Of the cedar-and-storm scent of h

g, that connection, and I

power.

ect was

erupted. It burst from me in a silent

the torches seemed to dim. The light shot up the shaft in

ad silent, then e

sp

s of

back, his scarr

shed, the pul

ing, standing in th

sed. Spec

Caleb. His smug smile was gone,

e knife at Rafe's shoulder. He ga

screamed

emed to

e's arm

er blade