Bloodbound vows

blur of teeth, c

into the cracked stone wall. Dust exploded into the air, and snarls echoed across the estate. Behind him, his

wasn't

from the darkness. Twisted things, half-flesh, half-shad

ovements were precise, controlled. She was a tempest in a world unraveling. But Ca

ng from the shadows like a g

e one of the beasts lunging for

o

in a tangle of claws and fury. Pain tore through his shoulder as its fangs sank in, but Caden didn't

ature w

h. Elyse stared at him, chest heaving, a gash

tlefield. "Don't flatter yourself. I don

, fire flashing there

ment, the estate's protective runes, etched into

ting sound rolled

s were b

: the creatures hadn't come to

a hand-and th

ing in unison. Even the warriors of Crimson Ridge and Silverc

rward. "The thinning of the Veil? The death of tradition? You cling to

. "But you, little flame, w

Caden's spine. "What

g. "She's the heir to more tha

Elyse asked, her vo

e that was buried long ago. Your blood, Elyse, is curse

tightened. "

"Is it? Or is it just a tr

n glowed faintly, and her eyes rolled back. Caden caug

ly

sing gold beneath her skin. A symbol neither of

is head, satisfi

rms, fury pulsing in every vein. "Tou

want to hurry, Alpha. She's waking

ped backward-and v

only silence remained. The battlefield was left in r

he wounded inside. Double the watch. I wa

ed withou

never left

hat had Malakar meant? What power stirred in her blood? And what

ery thing that could

ng gold. She sat upright, gasping, her hands trembl

They always do. But thi

time in her life

alone inside