Blood moon's shadow's
felt claustrophobic, yet the idea of stepping outside again filled her with dread. Dari
that she barely sipped. Her thoughts swirled, replaying Ronan's words
w?" she muttered to herself, her
ter than usual since Ronan's departure, his brooding prese
he mug down. "What happens if
You will," he said firmly, though the
n't kno
es meeting hers. "I won't l
d, it sent a chill through her. "You keep saying that, but what if
think," he said, his tone
laugh. "You've know
test hint of a smile. "Long enough
her chest only tightened. "What about Ronan? What's
on chaos. He'll do whatever he can to manipul
or that," L
across his face, highlighting the sharp lines of his jaw and the faint scars on his skin.
hat made her want to believe him, ev
awoke to the sound of birds chirping outside the cabin. The morning li
e confusion, the weight of the unknown it all dis
the window, his face shadowed by wo
, isn't it?
ng to face her. "The fu
her throat dry. "What
are," Da
r w
mes," he replied
to recognize signs of a transformation changes in her senses,
the edge of the forest, staying close to the cabin. "Some pe
So I might just turn into
sion serious. "If it happens, don't fight it
hurned. "What if
t," he sa
you be
l be there,"
want to believe him, but the fear gn
avier. The light faded, casting long shadows across the
as the first stars appeared. Her heart raced with eve
, his gaze fixed
e," he sa
n emerged from behind the clouds. It was full and bright,
ot through her chest, and
er side in an instant,
" she choked out, h
on fire. She collapsed to her knees, clutching
Darius said, his voi
like she was slipping away. But then the pain
. Brighter. She could hear the rustling of leaves, the distan
said, his voice ba
confusion swirling in her e
hoed through the forest-low and mourn
ion hardened. "W
s, and Ronan emerged from the shadows, hi
about to begin," he sa
f Lena, his stance protec
. "Relax, Darius. I'm not here to fight.
pain, her body trembling. The moonlight seemed to pull a
n said, his voice soft
wled, his voice echo
d this time, she saw something different-her mother's f
her face. She looked at Darius, her voice tremb
but before he could speak, Len
left me
air, heavy with pain a