The Mating Bond

-

couldn'

the bodies removed, her mind refused to quiet. Every time she closed h

id tha

o leash. His chest was bare again, the wounds on his side slowly stitching themselves t

he said, more to himself tha

was soft, almost drowned by the crackle of flames. "What kind o

cing. "Dark pow

tch

They channel magic through sacrifice. Through death. That's how they v

"The moon will claim what you cann

ound hers. "I

. "Why me? Why am I s

esit

p toward him.

ou're not just a mate.

What the hell

ed to a near whisper. "It means the moon didn't just bind you to me. It marked you. Claim

possible," s

hers. "The dreams. The pull. The power that surg

o, I'm not some magical moon-

ogue said it himself. You're the end. To something. To someon

r hands trembling. "Th

l didn'

then, the doo

es wide, her normall

she said

manor. The walls were made of black stone, carved with old symbols. A circular mirror sa

" Kael said un

tween them. "Wha

rror of truth. It shows wh

rd. "You think she

she's what we believe she is... t

ded. "What if it do

iora said simply. "An

eflection flickered, uncertain. Behind her, Kael

eache

bolt of silver light shot through the room. She gasped

er turned

it, s

lood-soaked cloth, cry

es screaming as wolves

ng itself into

. Three claw sl

to her kne

, "The Mark of

de, gripping her shoul

e whispered, shakin

said softly. "The d

remember an

led by whoever raised you. They b

nreadable. "The Hollowfangs kn

up at him. "

red. "You'r

n the human and wolf worlds. And if the legends a

l it," Lio

r feet. "I didn't a

said, voice gentler now.

e life had been a lie. Her dreams, her instinc

Kael. "What

l come again. Stronger. With more magic. Bu

reply, the Moonwe

nt image

ned to a stone altar. Her ski

sped. "Th

jaw tig

e image. Hooded. His voice

od moon... the sacrif

ror sha