BLOOD MOON'S HEIR: A Curse of Power and Passion...

o flesh. Aella's left eye was swollen shut, a fresh bruise blooming like spilled ink across her cheekbone, but the defiance in her gaze? Unbroken, like the stubborn wildflowers that clawed throu

in Silverclaw's courtyard, the air thic

teering her past the row of prisoners. The courtyard was a slaughterhouse masquerading as a stronghold-rusted cages hung from stone

gravel, the stones biting

Silverclaw enforcers prowled, wolfsbane-laced whips coiled at their hips like venomous snakes. One paused to k

ut the silver thread inside her burned, a

aking Thaddeus'

erup

orch from its bracket, she swung it in a wide arc, flames licking the air. The fire caught an enforcer's cloak, his

its surface etched with claw marks from countless omegas who'd met their end here. His breath hitched as he press

recoiling. "You want my blood?" She slashed her palm with a hidden nail, smearing crimso

rtyard

before dawn. His eyes locked on hers-gratitude and fury warring in their depths.

p cra

scre

ace was a patchwork of burns, his grin rotting at the edges. "Submit, omega," he sneered, "or s

r thread

tured. Ly

across his face, splitting skin from cheekbone to jaw. Aella rammed her elbow into his ribs, a sickening crunch ec

ou!" Aell

tur

ided with

mingling with ash as his smile twisted into something feral. "Miss me, rabbit?" His voice dripp

t and fury. Cassius met him mid-leap, black fur rippling like liquid shadow. Their fangs clashed, a symphony of snarls and splintering bone

ella's hand. "

this." She pressed the blade into Lyra's palm, it

ha

f Silverclaw's power-and yours. Smash it, and you break the curse!" Her words carr

ted. "How d

hed. One swiped at Aella's arm, shredding fabric and flesh. She spun

a r

-

ar. The runes pulsed crimson, their glow synchronized with the blood m

fro

s flood

he stone, Lyra. Before they take you." The blade had been too heavy, her arms shaking a

final act: hurling herself at the altar, her body dissolving into ash as the runes flared. "Ru

oo weak then

no

struck t

shattered, moonlight pouring through the cracked ceiling lik

wakeni

Time bent. S

shi

nto a

mething

-

ern walls trembling as if bowing to her presence. Thaddeus and Cassius staggered into the chamber, their fight forgotten. Thaddeus's sil

enforcer's chest. Blood streaked her face, but her smile was triumph

me. Lyra collapsed, human again, her veins g

d his back, blackened talon

too hungry. The Silverclaw collar around his neck cracked, falling away as his body began to convulse. Hi

zenith, its light f

true Alp