Saved By The Moon Goddess

railing shadows like smoke, their chants rising in a low, ominous drone. The symbols e

didn't

laring with moonfire- pure, radiant energy that burned through the encroa

l. She ducked low, spun, and drove her dagger upward through his ribcage. His screec

e c

blades danced like silver lightning, slicing through two priests at once. Lucien summoned

every priest they downed, two mor

ed from the shadows and deflecting it with a wa

pped to the

had no

eneath his skin, like light trapped beneath flesh. The chains binding him s

calmly watching the battle

ced. "You could've ruled at my side. Instead, you allied

idn't

e meaning

lu

as they struck again and again, faster than mortal eyes could follow. Her rage fueled her strength, but The

slam the hilt of his blade against her side. Pain burst throug

her teeth. "Y

iving him back. Behind them, Lucien's fire flare

she s

n Theron'

under his guard, an

tumb

and. It wasn't fire or wind-it was raw darkness, and it hit her like a

houted, but three

rise. Her vision swam. Blo

breathing hard, ble

, lifting a blackened crys

de, Calen

s heart

's eyes

t the soft hazel

re glow

nd trembled. A gust of cold wind howled through the trees as power began to

"Born of a hybrid bloodline. Desti

d, forcing herself to her feet. "Th

Sacrifice always

the crystal towar

N

xploded with light. A pillar of gold and black energy shot skyward, splitting

n back-priests, wa

ck bell. And then- silence. She lifted her head slowly, painfull

dust. The air around him shimmered with raw, unstable energy. Lea

ing at the boy in

turned-

Elo

am

oice. Small.

whispered, st

rd her... Then another, b

bbing the boy's arm.

ouched Calen, t

l. The crystal in his hand shattered into a thousand pieces, and the glow

head. "Too lou

. His skin was burning hot, and the magic wri

ered, cradling him. "I'm

rembled a

in behind them, eyes sc

he woods, and Theron lay sprawled nea

n said grimly. "This w

ave failed, but Calen's powers h

ked down a

leep in her arms

ed beneath the surface-dang

ned her ho

e to go thro

o the wounded. The moon hung full and heavy in the sky, cast

cot, watching the steady r

safe-

ould ever be

d from battle. "The boy will need training. Cont

," she said wit

power he holds-it's ancient. There ma

rms crossed. "So we f

have to cross continents or break into ancien

ftened. "Then we

nd looked ba

r truth. Now, she would fight for him. For Calen.

ll vibrated faintly with residual magic. Though the fighting had stopped hours ago, the

didn'

breath. A golden shimmer still pulsed beneath his skin-faint, but constant. The healers had

le word before retreating t

idn't wan

anted

ps approache

as quiet. "He's

r eyes off Calen. "Strength is a

his knees. "He needs anchors. You. Us. A place to

a weapon," sh

"If we don't prepare h

ce stretched

how righ

e shifted in his sleep. His lips par

ero

en t

t it too. "H

lear, yet. But the bond Theron tried to forge wasn't ju

t be u

ollow with guilt. "But I'll spe

e, Elowen. Neither are you. You don'

e weight of years-secrets, loss, isolation.

n't. Not

e earth beneath them. Both wa

ver," Kiera

nstantly. "Wh

ts later, his violet cloak swirl

to see t

thout question, Ki

f the forest, where warriors stood

here

ri

k shimmered across the stars like glass fractured from within. Sil

blood w

o.

itual. Theron succeeded in part. The gat

d his fists. "

out a pulse. Every dark coven, every blood cult, every realm-t

as hoarse. "So w

turned

pare fo

of strategy and council, Elo

as a

voice was we

brushing his hair ag

m in my head. The bad man.

You're not a door. You're my

Screaming. Like...

at wall is closed. And

she felt a flicker of his power-wild, afraid,

ed," he w

mitted. "But we f

to her side. "I don't

m. "Then we teach you to contro

on, where the sky still shimmered faintly with silver cracks. The gate wasn't