The werewolf curse

ix: Blood

w of Ashgrove pulsed

Bound from scattered bloodlines and broken packs-

a dark warmth. It wasn't just a relic-it was al

that?" Ma

. "The Bone Sigil. A fra

e to take it. "

t to the one who carries it. In the old days, the sigils

eader," M

en replied. "You're proof th

orward. "And if

gain," Riven said simply. "But

ce fo

walls, the watching eyes, the lingering scent of ash and moss. Her

n't fee

t hadn't aske

out and too

straight into her chest. Her vision blur

d. Old. Whispering. N

ing beneath

red around a

owing violet, reachi

it st

he sigil burned a mark into her palm

," Riven said

. She was still caught i

n the fores

ts wa

hand, stories shared in low, laughing tones. But Mara

there, two cups

t?" she asked, s

mark," Mara said.

the cup. "Then let

at her. "Why

efore the fire. Before I became just a blade and a name. You haven't ha

e fire, of the mead, of Kaelen's

what I'm doing

ever does. They just pre

d music behind them. Then Kaelen added, "When the Order comes,

arel

hink," Kaelen said. "Because

ek p

ound the Ash Tree's roots. Mara learned from Riven how to channel the

en explained. "You ask. And if it b

imes

s, it rema

ith knowledge from her years on the fringe. She was no w

id one night, hands stained with ward-ink. "Ala

ast. Cut one down, three more rise. And some

now rested in a leather pouch aroun

they break thro

"Then we fight. With

blade sliding from its sheat

ove turned pitch, s

just after

wl-long and mournful, not

trees s

ed down. Men in black cloaks and iron masks marched into the clear

un. Others fought in human form with clawed g

the clearing, the Bone Si

Alaric a

nger

ancient runes, his blade brighter than ev

houted across the battlefield.

idn't

ed her hand-and t

Vines snapped like whips. The Ash Tree glowed faintl

th reme

e singing. Clara defended the wounded, setting fir

ll, the

oo fast to stop. H

ecognize leapt from the

ed. From

Ash Tree: "The forest calls al

they

und. Lone wo

kness to fight beneath the

c at the cente

swu

bloc

and shadow, blood and br

wled. "But you're just another cu

s burning with viole

nd the Bone