Moonborn bonds

makes

weight in the air, and rou

her final statement drop like a knife, he knew who murdered your fat

asn't p

. Aunt Celeste never questioned where I was headed when I walked out of the house with a hoo

nd never ceased to whistle through the bell tower, the bookstore where I first fell in love with words.

ents'

by the wind and me. The porch creaked. The shutters hung as if broken wings. An

: beneath the third rock on the porch, wrapped up in a

laint, but the door yiel

re remained the gently spoken fragrance of lavender, my mother'

shold as though I were

hattered picture frame hung crooked on the wall, depicting my parents smiling together, eyes gazing

es. A wolf-shaped nightlight. The sound

rmitted in-was suddenly before me, i

ght stains etched on the wood. On it sat a small wooden box, heavy-looking, crescent moo

letters ins

them was ad

r

our mother kept her word and kept you from this world until you wer

written these as war followed him. Letter after le

the fringes of packs, when he was scouting and she was looking for visions. Called her

I'd be different.

re afraid. A

oaths. Corvan of Shadowmoor-Kael

ke his

I left to protect your mother and never came back. If you ever c

stole the

ed with me. The breaking of his voice on my name. His pro

d had not s

and jammed them in the box. The walls collapsed,

he forest dim and breathing around me. The wind sli

en I f

saw.

. A band was tighten

, emerging from the line of t

box pressed to my

ion was cal

dn't mentio

want you to look at me as his son fi

ered my

d I shoved him back. He hesitated. "My father's a monster

me, then?" I snap

nown your name. Felt the bond before knowing your name. And because

ieve him. Enoug

e. It burned to ash wh

e," I whisp

f them will. The packs are rising. Blo

there alone with a box of letters, a burning he