VOWS TO THE DEVIL

bled as she read

e, sister.

sweet, innocent sister-had betrayed her. Had allied

ce cut through the

dy, grounding. He took the letter

" he said. "We'l

Moon Temple-it's the Goddess's domain. If Elar

k into the t

him. "This is my fight. My s

on't push me away. Not now. Not

eyes burned with something f

u to the ends of this world and the next. If you walk into

oat tighte

. That means I don't abandon you when things get h

es. A tear slippe

t deser

her face. "You deserve everything.

*

the Moon Temple

nd a guide who knew the ancient paths through the Forbidden Forest. The trees grew darke

night, Lyra

rent. The walls were black with soot. The alta

center, her eyes burn

new you would. You always we

ver the Goddess promised you-it's a lie. Sh

. You were always the weak one. The Moon-Cursed. The shame of our f

that was

red at her palm. "I'm going to take it all from you. Every pie

surged t

ke scr

ms were around her. Hi

a dream. Ju

Her heart was racin

" she whispered. "The Goddess

"Then we'll get her b

knew th

as alre

*

heart of the Forbidden Fores

eached toward the sky, gleaming with an otherworl

om her horse. Her

d the warriors. "If

" Kael interrupted.

. Steady. The Devil Alpha. But

you,"

ook her hand. "Now let

oward the tem

open before they

d a ceiling that seemed to stretch into infinity. Moonlight pou

iting for the

eyes were cold. Her face was hard. Silver light

, her voice echoing.

l's hand tightened on her

isn't you. The Godd

Recognition. A future." Her eyes flickered to Kael. "She promised me a mate too

ensed. "Watch

ed. "You can't kill me. I'm protected.

f stir. It growle

're getting-it's a lie. The Goddess wants to

acked. "She promised me everythi

The one who was beaten down. The one who was sold like property. You had every

's chest. "The Heart. The Devil Wolf.

's a curse. It has a

ra's eyes blazed silver. "Y

*

k - Two

as eig

r. The pack had celebrated. Elara had shifted into a magn

a had n

o pray. To beg. To plead for

had foll

he shadows. "Why do you bother? The God

ce was wet with tea

cold. "But you'll never have it. You're we

hed. "Elar

th our bloodline." She smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "May

breaking. Her sister-her beloved siste

u loved me,"

How could anyone love so

*

es

sister. The memory

ieved that. Even when you were cruel. Even when you h

. "I did love you. Once. Bef

ng. I was always this.

ra raised her hand. Silver light gathered at her palm

came with

wave of fire. Kael grabbed her and pulled her aside. The light crash

n!" Lyra

N

aming with dark power. He swung at Elara, but she was faster. She

ink you can fight me? I'm ble

u." Kael attacked again. "Yo

ever imagined. But Kael was relentless. He fought with the fu

frozen. The wolf

ht, or she'll kill him.

inside herself. She found the se

pu

ploded from

formed in

olf lunged forward, crashing into Elar

er eyes wide. "No. No, tha

e seal is broken.

ss Elara's shoulder. Blood sprayed

in. Elara's wounds healed insta

a spat. "The Goddess prot

"Then I'll k

light caught Lyra in the chest, sending her flying backwa

ing. But the wolf

Get up. She's not the

body was broken, bleeding, but

girl who had once braided her hair and kiss

growl layered over human word

der. Give me

ing. But I'll give you one last chance. Walk away. Leave th

a moment, Lyra saw the girl she us

id. "I'm begging you. I

th tears. "I don't wan

ward. Hope bloom

hand. Silver light

," she whispered.

ght ex

his body shielding hers from the blast. The silve

Lyra s

from the wound in his chest

No, n

His heartbeat was faint

th me. Please,

His hand found her

he whispered

." Tears streamed down he

can't save him. The Goddess was ri

r vision was red.

lf exp

of the Devil Wolf surged through her veins. The Hear

eyes burned wi

u're wrong. I'm not weak. I'm the Devil Wolf. And

lu

was over

riers like paper. Her fangs sank into her sister's arm,

round. Her claws pressed a

" Lyra growled. "I

. Please, sister. I'm

raided her hair. The girl who had kissed her bru

tried to kill t

ice was weak. "Ly

eeding. Dying. But he was lo

" he said. "Don't l

retreated, just slightly. The a

leased

ching her wounded arm. Her

this place. Leave the Go

t her. "You're

a second chance.

were shaking. Her fa

he whispered.

she

colla

ught her. His body was brok

e whispered. "You

is chest. His heartbeat wa

I lost you,

hair. "Never. I'll al

walls shook. Cracks sp

p. "We need t

tumbled out of the temple, past the

e trees, Lyra felt something. A pr

tu

the temple doorway. Her ey

ar is far from over. I'll come for you. For your mate. For

olf stir. It ho

yra said. "I'l

smiled. An

o Kael. His e

her,"

er," sh

lf inside