The Half-blood crown

d through her ribs, her shoulders, her jaw. Her bones shifted under her skin. Her fingers curled in

estess commanded.

eld shut for twenty-two years. But the wolf was not gentle.

ong her arms-silver and black, thick and wild

th

th

the altar, gasping, human again. Her clothes were torn. He

nelt beside her

's voice cracked.

g. But you did not break. You held back." The prie

body ached. "What if I can't do it

l said quietly from the edge of t

ook. "You think I

r. "I saw your wolf. Just for a moment. It was there. It was

half-bloods ever achieve." She touched Sera's forehead. "You have until the blood moon.

ut she forced them steady. "W

urned and walked into the trees, he

go. "She's afra

ncient. She's afra

ce was low. "She

-

aring at her hands. They looked normal now-no claws, no fur. But

knock came

man who had served her mother before her. "The counc

tightened. "Wha

us is already in the hall. And Cha

hun

been held in fifty years. It is a trial-a test of worthines

into the forest with nothing but a knife and a single night to survive. They had to track and kill a marked beast-usually a rogue

ing to kill

council knows you cannot shift. A hunt against a

death se

our Hig

ife. She did not bother with jewels or ceremony. The

-

dais, Voss at the center, his thin hands folded. Darius stood to one side, arms crossed,

s absent. Too

center of the hal

a hunt," she s

the succession-that the traditional Hunt of Heirs should be held. Tomorrow night. You will e

f I re

he council will select a consort for you and

ghtened. "And

e yourself worthy. Or you die trying

someone laugh. She did not l

he asked. "The Hunt of Heirs a

The old law allows it. B

arius. His smirk vanished. She looked at th

ze. Calm. Ste

f the Silverfang Pack a

Voss stood. "This

. "The Hunt of Heirs allow

u would choose a foreign wo

," Sera said. "And I woul

d. He looked at Voss.

adable. But there was something in his eyes

head. Once.

ht. Sundown. The Blackwood Forest." He sat down

-

. He was sharpening his blade-a real one this time

have to acce

, I

hy

"Because someone wants you dead. And if you g

ke care o

hey've marked for you-" He paused. "It's not a normal wolf. It's a feral. A ha

blood like her. Driven mad by

o see myself in

es

at do y

whole life that she is not enough. Someone who is about to walk into a trap." He stepped closer

ew cold between them. Somewhere

night,"

night,"

ne way or another-ev