Throne of Moonfire

alignment. But I, I was

e of the

y that had been smeared wi

mbed roofs like snakes eager to be free, twisting in fiery tongues. The metal-hued air reeked of smoke and metal, thick

yne ra

and splintered wood. Her lungs were on fire. Not from ru

ver the village. Th

didn't do

and ageless. The other a creature of nature, wild and unbridled. Vampire. Werewol

tent enough to corrupt her blood and call forth every killer born of the dark. Her skin craw

Moo

ded to end

ecies lac

coppered by fire. Shadow crept over the field,

ius D

an shackles. Seraphyne paused, not out of will, but because something within her vast

ot trave

der furs rough and crude. Alpha Kaelen. A beast of a man, eyes burning

nning?" he drawled, voice like oil, smooth

never yet given a name to, some combination of

d her arm. His grip was unyielding, iron-backed. "She's

et whose fire was lit to burn," he whis

clamped, Valerius his hand around the back of her neck with icy intimacy, light

a charred tree. She g

spat in anger, "to on

burned," he whispered. "The Moonfire marks you like the kis

down her neck. Desire did not gleam i

mething

ing. "No," he muttered.

aised an

went cold. "She's not

uch me again, and I'll engrave

e flashing in his eyes. "Woul

huddering, clenching. Not with passion, but with some refle

are afraid of me, o

s he stepped back. "That's e

not her killing." He gestured, and from the charred wood

. Her arms went numb, her fire sputtered. When she was taken off the groun

ng longer th

oke on

uises, her gasps mirrored back to her. She wore nothing. The Moonfire flame on her flesh glowed softly,

"But do not give her any clothes. Let h

Not even in the cage. But at how deliberate it all was. Each glint of the mirrors

r creak

confidence of a man who took

a thing for some time. Just watching

ive," he f

nk. "Supposed

ed. "A

between them was heavy, hea

ou're here because the world won't live u

d against her chin

e whispered, "but I'll grow;

ehind his eyes. Surpr

ains with roots

use silence w

hout a word, the door cl

the circle of her own face. Not

was changi

low and softly, as i

on was

ions of death echoed around her in the center of the room, her body tender but her will not. The Moonfir

irrors. Not to be admired, n

very breath taken from her, e

would be

sound of the words. A vow, not to Valerius nor Kaelen, but to

kept whirling around in the air. Her people's wails echoed within her m

was not made f

onsters. It creaked open, revealing a figure cloaked in pale silver. A

ake," she

asleep," Sera

tuff. Wine. Possibly. Maybe not. Her fingers brushed over Seraphyne's shou

d finally. "But strength draws hunger. And

s narrowed. "An

gardener. And I see something bloom

could answer, the door cli

e Moonfire lace that pulsed on her flesh.

a ca

et a

. And soon she woul

black as guilt, and settl

the dying breath of flame and tooth, s

not burn