Bloodbound vows

at her trem

. But everything inside her scre

gown-warm, rhythmic, like a second heartbeat. And the voice. Th

ust n

ds haun

was in one of the guest chambers, tucked deep within the Crimson Ridge estate

moonlight. A woman with fire in her eye

he wh

burned ho

ort. Her legs felt weak, but she couldn't lie in bed while the world unraveled

open before she

His shirt was torn, blood staining the collar. Not his own, she guessed. His eyes sc

ake," he s

uttered, straighten

peared. And I nearly tore the world apart tryi

d. "He didn

hat's what

ween them felt like something sharp, something unfini

you something,"

airs and into the war chamber-a room carved of old stone, walls lined with blades and maps. At the center stood

torn manuscript, the par

ding the archaic scr

ood ra

den said. "It's old. Forgotten, mostly

e of women born with fire in their veins-marked by prophecy, hunted by

," she whispered. "Witches. Cursed. So

den said. "And now y

t him. "You think

. "But Malakar thinks you're important.

attered once-forced into a marriage for political peace, dr

he murmured. "But I saw

did it

me for you. They always do. B

ing u

ut his jaw clenched, and

One of Caden's guards stepped in, eyes wide with un

n Ridge. The air smelled of ash. Wolves and guards fo

bo

h twisted as t

f theirs. It wa

bone. Her eyes were wide open, glowing faintly gold. And on her shoulder

beside the bo

ean?" Elyse asked

ack," he muttered. "And no

meborn, too?" E

unreadable. "Maybe. Or mayb

shiv

ust a bride caught

marked

asn't the

mark on her shoulder glow again-brighter this time. And whe

e awakened. And