Beauty in the grave

ing wen

ra. It felt like the whole forest had lost its sight. Lyra couldn't catch h

ed out, but his vo

out with shaking hands. Then she felt

said, still tr

ss began to lift, like mist

ve looked sunken. The trees seemed smaller

front

e man w

hing else

seen. Its fur was pitch black, like it was made of shadows. Long cl

not

looking ri

couldn't speak. All she

in front of her. He held her hand a moment longer,

its head, like it was curious. Then it

ust a

ci

raised her arms and drew a glowing shape in the air.

awed at the ground. Then it t

ipped throu

k their bones. It felt like somethin

r away more h

ther. Coming

old chill run

Selena whispered,

" Jasper s

f looked at L

peared into the trees qu

ed for a l

, someo

lena asked, her voi

heavy and old. "It's not a normal werewolf. It wasn't

box in her arms. The heart inside was still b

for the heart

, meeting her eyes.

lt dizz

u opened the box. Because it knows somethin

"Lyra... there's more going on

oftly. "I just don't

ods. "We should go. Th

ra said. Her voice was stronger now. She looked at the

erstand," Eli

m like the heart's heat had spread into the ground

" she said.

ne a

ary now just quiet. Watching. Lyra held the box close to her che

village, they saw torches glowing.

n't hiding

hiding fro

our father didn't tell you everything. An

Lyra

f Thorns," A

d. "She's j

e's real. She's older than myths. And i

he air like a stor

clearly shaken. "Do you t

a said, "she's bee

out into the

nt. Something tied to her family, her fa

as only th

whistle cut throu

ed. "That's a

e answered, sh

meone s

running. Lyra

the woods. A young lookout boy

ointing. "Something

ill. The smell of smo

they

team rising from it. And in

Glowing with stra

. "That's not f

started rising out of it, not fully human

ed, carved in

Fen

urned fre

ed back. "Wh

. "It's a summoning mark

oked a

for

stared

a whispered. "

't move. Co

ne puls

e, the light

ted to

tw

the v

ring right at her. A deep growl filled the air, shaking the ground. Elias quickly moved in front of her, holding her c

whispered in their minds: "She has retu

t them , and ever

s. The forest fell silent. Even the wind seemed to pause. Then, from somewhere far beyond the trees, a deep, aching ho