Bloodbound vows

Crimson Ridge est

waiting for something to break. Elyse sat curled on a bench near the estate's inner courtyard, eyes on th

nd-dead, marked, an

with fear. Her mouth slightly parted, as if frozen mid-scream. And t

ueens of ash. P

ed guards at every exit, doubled patrols, and locked th

rting to un

t us anymore, she th

made her tense. She tu

pants dusted with soil. His expression was hard, but there was some

t you to be out

ldn't

ed. For a while, they didn't speak. The wind picked up, rustl

the scroll," Caden said finally

at him, heart

ower. Anchor it. Suppress it." His eyes met hers. "You're awakening, Elyse. Whatev

f silenc

fraid of what

is... bond. The politics. My people. I was never supposed to care ab

d have left me in Sil

steady. "Maybe I shou

d between them-heavy

e could speak, a sharp, pierci

ped toward the so

both

he western watchpoint, the

near the wall-a Crimson Ridge scout, eyes wide with horror, throat torn open.

aced. "This doe

anning for details. "No scent tra

d this is al

hit like

estate. The guards stiffened. Another howl

en, adrenaline roaring.

led. "Safe

with silver-touched runes. Caden shoved open the iron door, ushering Elyse and t

shut, the torches flickered-a

scre

n bubbled, twisted, shifted-until it was no longer flesh at all but shadow.

expl

t the wall. Elyse darted backward, heart pounding. Another guard scr

den spat. "They got

ssed?" Elyse whi

ng a swipe. "They were bre

e room-more soldiers turning, more chaos

been infiltra

ng heavily. Elyse moved in tandem with Caden now, no longer thinking-only reactin

floors. Three more attackers waited-creatures with wolf

ault. If what Malakar said is true-then there's som

, panic rising. "Yo

you stay and

s hit li

she

t blood-locked wards. Elyse reached it, breath ragged, blood coating her sleeves. She

ng ha

ed-calm, etherea

ns what bl

ced her palm with her dagger. S

, the vau

lined the walls, filled with scrolls and relics. Bu

ing runes. Beside it lay a pendant in the shape of a flame. The m

whispere

ys

h her-like fire roaring through her veins. The pendant flared with go

rising in battle, falling in betrayal. A war lo

lood, born of ash and oath, to burn t

her knees, c

a tool in some m

a queen

r had alre

red into the courtyard, bl

cross from him,

rk warlock murmured. "But don't

ows twisted into

me fo

ed her eyes-burning gold-and to