Vladimir and lyra: a forbidden love

Doubl

arth beneath Lyra's feet. The Howling Moon Clan's camp was restless tonight-wolves p

om the kiss she had shared with Vladimir Drakovich. It had been days

n't have k

ave let herself

she

of betrayal pressing down on her. Because no matter how hard she tri

d to see

iffened, her hand going to the dagger strapped to her thigh. A

ing Moon Clan's

stepped toward her. His silver-streaked hair gleamed under

ff, Lyra," he said, his

e hilt of her blade. "I don't

ce? The daughter of the Beta slipping away into the night like

If the pack knew she had met with Vladimir-let

," she said instead, k

." His gaze turned sharp. "Your father is growi

r stomach twisted. If the Alpha had noticed her abs

re, Garron?" she asked

a hand over his jaw. "Because I ne

undered. "You da

n darkened. "I dar

th caught.

were like a dag

n meeting with t

spine. She kept her face un

s suppose

them. "I've smelled him on you, Lyra. The scent of deat

, but she swallowed it dow

he growled. "I only

ack if she had to. "So, what now

ween them. Then, to her surp

ured. "I came

icion flaring in h

re no one else was near. Then, in a v

he pack is se

an cold. "What

ng between the Alpha and a few of the elders. Someone

eled. Someone w

?" she d

gone, Lyra. They want to brand you a traitor-to have

ship with Vladimir was dangerous, but she had underestimated

ed her fis

n uttered a name that

lis

back as if he

dhood friend. Her

had always

athed. "That's

ut the evidence is there. She's been whispering in the Alpha'

ire. Calista had always been ambit

to stay calm. "What

l demand a trial before the pack. If f

" Lyra finished,

hoice at all. Exile

act fast. She had to clear

, her eyes burning with r

long, and measur

ra," he said, his voice ste

that night, hope fl

e said. "Because if I'm going down

ed before them, h

this was only

Price of

earth. Lyra moved swiftly through the forest, her pulse hammering like

couldn't b

ed with and trusted beyond all others. And now, she had poisoned

he ran. If she didn't act now, sh

bled through the trees. Garron was alread

for you," he sai

d sharply.

ed. "By

than a few hours to clear her nam

ced. "Where

o you." Garron's lip curled in disgust. "She's clever. She's twisted her story wel

ted with fury. "And

s pushing for your exile," Garron adm

cif

what exi

e pack was as good as dead. If the vampires

her rage. "Then I need proof. If I ca

fore saying, "I mig

o him sharpl

hat Calista has been meeting with someo

roze.

w. But if we can prove it, she'll f

ealing with vampires, it meant she was the r

rron's gaz

he river," he said. "She meets the

immediate. "Then t

d in ivy, its wooden beams rotting with age. Lyra and Garron c

me from inside. A

oice-low

ain she will

She knew that

is already as good as dead. The pack will turn o

heart s

ed through the air. A va

one calculated. "And what

wer, as promised. When the Howling Moon fa

This wasn't just a be

her breath shallow.

ed. "We need to

ound echoed through the trees-

sharpened. "Di

mn

been di

adows, her claws extended. Calista barely had tim

h the dirt, snarli

tor!" Lyr

a burst of strength. She scrambled to he

," she spat. "I'm doi

k!" Lyra bared her fangs. "How l

irked. "Lo

in, the vampire lunged betwe

collided with a sickening crack. The vampire snarled, b

cus on Calista.

into something almost pityi

dy to flee-but

ng Calista back into a tree. Her

I shouldn't rip you

g into a wicked smile. "Because if you do.

hesit

nt was all Ca

she drove a hidden da

ded throug

ching the wound. Blood s

"You always were

l glance, she vanis

Garron rushed to her side, panting from his fig

ed her arm, tryi

eth against the pa

ed. "She won't get f

and. The wound was deep,

yed her. She had

ere would b

uddering breath,

end

ay violate our

ase tell us by giving th

angerous

d been silver-lined-enough to slow her healing but not enough to kill her outright. A warning. A message th

. "We can't stay here," he said. "

vement. She had been too soft. She should have

urned deeper t

herself to focus. "Not just any vampire. Someone

ssion darkened

e clans for centuries, and if Vladimir wasn't behind this plot himself, the

Garron urged. "We ne

ched her

frowned

e once. She'll do it again. If we return without proof, t

er his breath. "T

kened forest, where the land slope

said. "And that means goi

're suggesting we walk

burning with determination.

, the more the air grew thick with the scent of death and magic. The forest around them darkened unnaturally,

pushed

sta's smirk, of the betrayal in her voic

the night had grown impossibly still. A thick mist rolled across the

sharply. "Thi

hed. "It's only s

further, movement fl

as alert, claws flexi

mson eyes like embers in the night. Their forms were

pir

nter stood Vlad

ing his sharp features. His presence was commanding, hi

ice smooth as silk. "You've come t

voice sent a strange chill through her.

d on his lips. "The

e. "One of my own has betrayed me. She's working with yo

eadable. Then, with an amused tilt of his head, he sa

is making deals behind your back, that ma

thing dark passed

s shifted slightly,

gaze never leaving hers. "And because you amuse me, I will tell you this: there are whispers of a fac

ed her eyes

d. "Blood without consequen

ta wasn't just betraying the Howling Moon-she was

s tight. "Do you

dged with something sharper. "I have my suspic

er fists. "Then

er, his voice lowering. "A

ounded. She ha

, her voice stea

rply beside her, b

an elegant bro

whoever she's working with, I will make sure the Howling Moon knows th

a long moment. Then, a sl

rmured. "We have a

nded hi

nt before grasping it. His

d in ever so slightly, his vo

ret this now, Ly

ran thro

didn't