Shadowed Paws, Shattered Lights

h the trees, breath ragged, boots crunching ag

than she expected. Her shoulders tensed, blood still sticky ben

und. "There were two beasts and no backup. You

hat wasn't saving. T

ame

er. I could've b

ou wer

from climbing. "You don't get to choose who stays al

d. Quiet, b

fied of loss,"

Then what exactly are y

, then closed a

s that ev

"It means I've seen this all before. I've watched the people I care abou

ha

ing is safer tha

ched. "You're certainly not th

kno

carcely visible through the heavy canopy above. A small breeze

n's name," she

did

o your blade the second he stepped

looked

she de

My father used to whisper them when he thought I was asleep. About a wol

er head. "Th

was ancient. Bound

think Sor

ow he

n he's after me. Or rat

urrowed. "What

he pulled the fabric aside, revealing a strange mark just below her

e I was a kid. It b

t just a b

old ones. My mother tried to kee

d n

nk it's a

wh

none of us a

d through his hair. "And you were

t trust

tter laugh. "Yo

d honestly. "

ssin. Not like a soldier. Like somethin

static buzzed through the c

Phantom.

ic. "Phantom her

ply. "East breach is gone. Hostiles i

the mic from

And they're

ignal

back. "They've re

time," Aiden mutte

me a hiss. Not like a sna

a claw. "B

ting you wou

rush, half-flesh and half-metal, with b

e fast.

s she drove them through a beast's throat. Aiden was jus

date?" he called ou

't handle a

cked. Blood sprayed t

," Aiden bark

ion C.

slashed a gas line and struck it with her claw. The t

wall, panting. "Remind

ping. "You're still al

ground

's not Soren,

e dropped. "N

steel flew. A figure stepped through-m

ister," i

roze. "

in horror. "Th

east

ht like she knew Selene-because she was her. E

cting you!"

IS

ows with the creature that had Selen

den said between swings.

aused, tilt

now," it said. "

blinked

the Bone Wolf. About yo

Aiden. "You don't be

One second she was

ck. "Where the h

activated a phase jump. That

just made

her ribs. The m

rkness. "She's definitely t

darkness, her red hair il

Selene b

between her fingers.

d on the shimmering

Your lieutenant's loyalty

ing forward. "You'll

onight." She smiled. "Midnight.

peared li

Aiden. "If she tr

mes the f

the packs t

we sto

ords. Just the thud

the Temple rose. Old. Wrong

it?" Ai

"That's wh

peak of the stairca

to be dead," S

tly, death's a li

do you

e turned to

front of him. "You

"Touch him? He'

What heck are yo

ce turned mocking. "The strength, the sh

n, her voice cracking

en... h

s sm

e, Aiden. My first

acked aw

trembled. "I d

ren't m

e doors creaked open.

reached

pped to h

dy con

went

white, pure and unnatural-Selen

ust made to

made to