Hollow-Born

dy

kind. Not the kind of dyi

nd that rips through you li

-tea

thing clawing its way through my ribs like a caged

t. My lungs too small.

ep inside me...

eneath me is wet with blood, my blood, slick and burning as it mixes with the ash and moonlight. I

nto the shift with incense, chants and safety. But I'm not marked for safe

t forb

ot ninete

uncil's approval list, and tonight I felt her wo

. Pacing inside my chest like

out. She w

I r

f standing stones at the edge of Ashbane. Drew th

that smelled like dust and nightmares. The circle pulsed under me, ancient and waiting. I sliced my palm, let blood drip in

of the trees leaned cl

feel her, run

r voice tight. The windows had been shut, the moon hig

thers. You will not sur

mber asking. "Wha

me close. Held me like she kn

I'm payi

. No. Whatever's inside me is crawling through my bones like it wants to wear me.

eam a

rincess. I'm a

ce isn'

sm and silver fire-and it purrs through

t?" I

choes in

cked me in for twenty-one years and

spine arches so hard

ne in my bo

.what a

ides across my mind. I feel wi

s Jinx

e

I stole from my aunt's closet and laugh, except it comes out more

n... I

tters. My chest caves, and something enormous bur

ground, choking on

wolf stand

like frost, like s

. My

hit," I

h in something tha

o beings, one soul

t supposed t

pposed to rip

d to shift with

. Not

ollow

heartbeat in my throat. "No

her head

ssible. Just

o stay upright, try to move toward her, to pull he

" I wh

flesh, some thread between us. It

old creeping into my fingertips. Fight the tears. Fight th

," I whisper.

The sky breathes.

my knees hit the earth

from beneath me. Col

re I black out is her voic

I'll take f