Marked by His Shadows

that danced across the forest floor. Wind stirred the treetops like whispers in

y against the damp earth, each step echoing

screamed at h

a tether had been wrapped around her r

rd mark

t pulsed in time with her heartbeat, humming ancient secrets only the damned could understand. Visions flickered at the edge of

Lucan.

blood. She didn't know who she was anymore

he would f

-

outlined by the glow of the moonlight. He leaned against a fallen obelisk, its

aid, his voice l

few feet away.

" he asked, ti

of those to las

d, leading her deeper into the Wraithwood, through gnarled tr

n't Kael's doing,"

ze. "The

cing back. "You trigge

not po

d them "-it's sacred. The veil here is thin. If

s. The ground beneath their feet shimmere

y. "Where the old magic shattered. Where Kael br

breath catching. "What d

You were claimed. Your soul was marked before you

weak. "So... I'm

s are drawn to you. Kael wants redemption. Adrian wants control. Bu

-

udy, clutching his chest as a pulse of raw magi

't just

as h

d. "It's too soon

-

g down on her shoulders. Her skin felt like it was being scorched from within. T

mind. Some cried. Some whispered lullabies in

top," she

e to comfort her

lm. "The power is yours. You can't

th her. The air grew thick, pressing against her like invisible walls.

bent

orm building in her chest, until

xploded

lse-violet-black, streaked with stardust and venom. A

e from t

o longer green,

ere ga

across her spine, a glowing sigil that s

-and for the first time,

-

rlooking the valley, his silver hair ca

ing up," h

st time in cent

-

the wood cracked beneath his fingers. Her power br

gain. Not out o

he might become

-