Crimson Contracts

neath the Crimson Cour

n in wh

and lined with bones that didn't belong to any beast Lyra recognized. It wasn't on any map. It didn't

now, the Pact burni

's down here

ispering around him. "You

es

try not to scream.

cended t

became thick with old magic, sharp as copper. Lyra had felt fear before. This was differe

the bottom, Vere

ointed to t

s not

as f

ins of silver light. And embedded in its cente

sed to be

ts frame is made of twis

it, drawn by s

buzzed in

Verenthas sa

ated. "Wh

Older than our gods. The first hybrid was i

caught. "Th

er. Li

ask why i

she alr

n't a weapon

as a

d just bec

s brushed

rld sh

s swall

e being crushed beneath centuries of silence. Her limbs

hen a

t sighed. S

ove. Her body was gone. She floated in not

the voice said. Jus

nd her eyes. Not f

he

ei

s and claws both. Standing on a battlefield. Not a va

ns were driven into her c

ssed as it h

lled he

irst

o much, they locked h

waited e

ugh... desperate enough... to t

yra whispered in her e

ed to pu

to w

or wouldn't

a said. But I will be your

ame th

Memory

re kings, the burning of werewolf clans, the endles

been its

alance. They

t no rulers. No wa

And forged the dag

woke, she w

aught her a

aded to blac

Lyra gasped. "She s

, calm and cold.

n't you

u have be

hands t

live. In

" he said. "And n

quarters, Lyra star

ger the half-blood orphan who'd

d faintly. Not

o

od was

s no longe

not be a pawn

Veyr

Ka

erent

forge a

en in her

ned in