Alpha Heir: Mask Of The Moon

n a memory. Every block a denial. Her first punishment for training in secret. Her mother's tears. Her fathe

ust the staff into he

ked lik

m fell

rmed-not with her fa

on inside a c

or o

epped

ollow was

d. "You faced your truth. That'

the sigil onto her palm-b

one of

*

rros did

ever

laden with energy and the scent of storm and cedar. Lyra-half-naked from undress

la

e line. Eyes like molten silver m

and secrets," Damon

beautiful. You practice th

forward. "No. But I ha

r palm. The Hollow mark was pale now, hidden under bandages, but

hobby," she said to him, voi

lted his head as if he'd he

wanted to make some noise. But you went and

d feel his presence sparking the air li

ing old. Something holy

gid. "Are you accusi

velvet blade, "whatever your game's

the first time, not with

g for. But if you believe you're going to steal your wa

away-then

. and

d you out to the arena tomorrow. Public trial. Comb

ppeared down the hall. "Especially

*

t return t

and up onto the academy's forbidden rooftop. The moon loomed above, swollen an

eeded

answ

on her palm pulsed beneath the wrappings

how. The Hollow mark was not suppose

ledge, her legs da

ripped

know? How much

her to the grounds not for

you here," a voice s

hed up to the kn

was onl

settling beside her on the ledge with silent

e said. "Verros versus Thorn. The winne

idn't

t anxious?

ring in terror

looked-and his tone softene

se sh

of her had been

ot only to live-

'd never had from the

ing up on uncertain legs, cloak blowing in the

led. "The

im. "Why are yo

nt of

your father fight once. A

breath

swer. "Sleep, Thorn. Tomorrow, the

e was

*

was afire

ape of wolves' jaws. The sky was battered gray, thunderheads packed lo

stood in the center of the arena, sand caked

, and a torso carved out of steel and sin was

yourself too quic

She dropped low, l

horn

at her li

spun, met, teeth fangs and snarls rolling from the crow

er belly was

but rolled into a kick, slas

e growled, s

ad en

o win. No

caught the sc

ma

ve. Her knees buckled beneat

's fa

str

she was

with a resounding crash onto the sand, her face smacking against the ground. Gasps s

," he

aws clam

ody would

shouted loud

N

. Blac

ed at the

laug

us, blood on his lip, as he ra

fallen!" thunder

crazed. Some were awed, s

ut, with the flavor of iron and defeat on her

idn't

ldn

something long-f

ould not