The Half-blood crown

did not c

racked and reformed. Fur burst along her arms-silver and black, thick and wild.

nged. Sera m

mad with years of rage. But Sera was faster. She twisted, sank her teeth into its shoulder,

nd, bleeding, watchi

es flickered. For a moment-just a moment-she saw someth

feral cha

, caught the feral by the throat, and drove it into the gr

ll over th

h blood. She was a wolf. A full wolf. Silver and blac

himself up.

ld. Her breath came in heavy bursts. She

. You're still in the shif

know how to return. She di

mething human. Something real. Your mother's ring.

. Xiayoa.

ught her. It wanted to run. It wa

e. She was a prince

. And slowly-painfu

shaking. Her clothes were shredded. Her body ached. B

her. "You did it

der was torn open. Blood soa

l li

aved m

the first real smile she had

urt. Everything hu

e creature had been like her once. A ha

ens to it?

l want proof. We

d. "No. We bury it.

. "The council w

using his arm for support. "I am the heir

we bury it. And we

feral to rest beneath an old oak tree. Sera said no

alked back

-

Darius. The nobles. They had gathered to see her body-or her triumph. When they saw

nt pale. "You-

ead," Sera said

ward. "We will nee

. "The feral was a half-blood. A

ss's hands trembled.

urtyard. "I am the heir of Xiayoa. And I have comple

ome looked impressed. Some look

law is satisfied. Unless the council wishes to challenge the Hu

g. His silence w

ll the kingdom. The heir has

the castle, her blood-soaked cl

-

She visited her father first. He was awake,

ifted,"

d

t terr

of his bed. "But I did it

med. "The feral w

I burie

Your mother would h

and yet. The priestess said it might take

t the council will not stop. Voss wil

him

weakly. "That'

f the castle she had avoided for years. The human quarter. W

en here since

man ancestors lined the walls-people who had served Xiayoa for ge

all, she found her

finished letter. And on the desk-a locket. Sera opened it

locket and put i

shifted. I did it. But I d

silent. No

h in her chest. Not the wolf. N

of a

The council would meet again. Voss would scheme. Darius

as no long

he had survived. A