Alpha Blood,Royal Heart

Don't Get

I should

re like "the stars blinked out when she was born, s

of my life, I

How to survive on two granola bars and rage. How to

y-first birthda

o sender. Just a black envelo

si

n Blac

e one

e h

inates. T

't heard since I was a kid-my real name. The one the sy

nt issues and chronic curiosity, I packed a duffel, told no one,

rclaw

2. Vibes? Imma

nce. People stared. Not in a hey-new-girl kind of way

house, I was already que

ecial. Creaky porch. Shuttered windows. Smelled l

orknob, a shock ran through

open without

uttered. "S

800s. Dust. Old books. A fire that somehow lit itself t

he mi

that

t alive. I saw myself in it-but just for a

sp

th

was watching.

a fireplace poker under my pillow an

ed men fighting over me like I was a cr

to cold

s standing out

e, with eyes like winter. The other leaner, w

didn'

ike that, th

sound. Like they

veins. Like a song I didn't know th

the door came

n the other side wasn't in a hurry-b

and crept to the door like a s

saw

ed one fro

all the arrogance in the world. Tanned skin, wild brown hair, emerald ta

voice a little rough

yes. "How do yo

a lot of

eepy a

you a

. "I was wondering when

but didn't let go of the poker.

Just looked past

mbered th

"I've never be

more to himself tha

uld ask wha

assed over

urn

t beyond the steps,

ci

ms. Dressed like royalty had a military branch. And staring

. Didn't speak

rt. Like maybe he remem

ice clipped. "What the

said casually. "Fo

n them. "Okay. Time ou

er an

Yeah. That was about ten

dden for a reason, Raven. The moment you s

demanded.

e isn't supposed to exist. And now ever

You make it sou

snapped. "She's the las

g in me w

pretended didn't exist. "Blackthorn." A whisper fr

lying,

on didn't change.

anymore, Raven. You're a legacy. A target. An

way, pulse

h need t

p. "We're not the ones

th

ho

oing. No

ire postur

s jaw t

Lucian said darkly. "S

de muttered.

bolted it, and turned back to them both. "So

eyes lock

s-one royal, one cursed. That ma

I echoed, vo

t you've crossed into Silverclaw

e w

it softly.

are coming t

use tr

orically.

in the hearth flared high for a blink-blue and furi

t icy. "Get away

. "Why? What'

om in three strides, pulling me toward the stai

a

mmed against

g.

muttered. "Not

a silver dagger etched with glowing runes.

oor explod

e frame-tall, half-shifted, teeth bared and

ammed again

dn't s

dn't b

could track-one second at my side, the next in fron

man, the next he was fur and fangs, crashing into th

and muscle. Claws raked. Fangs tore. Anot

ickering, then vanishing i

g. The walls felt too clo

ke off from

ed eyes

when I

roared to life like fire catching dry leaves. A surge of heat ros

ogue

think. I

t rea

aced with silver. The rogue didn't just stop-it flew back,

le

led from

beneath

ody streaked with blood and soot, eyes wid

reathed. "You su

d trailing down his side. "She's not su

wly, hands raised like I was

id gently. "Yo

to the floor, still glowing

," Lucian said. "It

wer... it's from the Blackthorn l

imly. "And now t

m, heart hammering.

"Now every pack in the r

e said, voice low. "To

ttered. "Love

ror in the h

ure, running d

n, my eyes were

were

y were