Marked by His Shadows

the mark just beneath her collarbone. It shimmered faintly under the dim light, pulsing

it make

ht. He had retreated into himself-brooding, silent, burdened.

he center of somethin

eel it? Like it wasn't new. Like

a knock at

rned.

an's voice came f

?" she as

be

-

thickness of the trees, but from the heaviness in the air. Magic. Lil

o him, the muscles of his back taut beneath the thin fabric. Lila hated that she noticed. Hate

ne altar, half-buried in moss a

d. "And where we'll either seal

ms. "You're not e

able. "The Circle will come for you aga

s wh

out a small dagger. Its blade was obsidian black, curved like a fang, a

No way. You are not sta

stabbing. It's

ic. Because this coul

. He stepped closer, holdi

nd Blade. It links p

o... what, you're try

your dream. His name was Kael. The last of his kind. A

to bond with

aid quietly. "He's chaine

. "And what happe

to his memories. His

wed. "And i

you. Rip you open. Use your blood to

silence be

e hunger in Adrian's eyes-something mor

would come, didn'

es

didn't

emembered on your own, the stronger th

at him for a

e reached out-an

-

n was i

ne flared to life, searing through her like a brand. She dropped the d

kne

ai

i

hen-a

ally

eath h

like snow. A man knelt in the center, his body bound by blackened chains that glowed with

a

he said, voice deep and

hakily. "Thi

aid. "It alwa

ace was hidden, she felt his gaze-ho

fire," he said. "And t

d was gone, but her palm still b

me-or to le

." she whispered

r ears. "Then the world burns. But

ila realized-he

s a w

the key to u

-

t floor. Adrian was kneeling

y twenty minutes," he s

he rasped.

clenched. "

es

e Circle will move fast. The

ead throbbed with

she said. "Kael. Ther

id. "Because he was n

dagger, now lying

she realized-she wasn'

one who co

mething far

-