The stake of fire

eek L

Fang, Velen

d the bodi

nt of scorched fur and blood. It clung to everything. Our skin, our hair, even our grief. The pyres lined the clif

ted into the wind as

were wh

ere lef

e kindling. I never knew her name, only that she'd tried to shield a

s curled

The other pack members were gathered behind him, hundreds of them, wolves in

un with the attack

re Courts and the Lycan tribes, a mutual enemy finally bringing ancient riv

pected us

flames died, Lu

re covered in ancient tapestries-depictions of the First Hunt, the Binding of the Bloodlines, and the founding of the

in black leather and grey fur

ding me," he said

een mou

But we don't

his is?" I snap

wasn't angry. He was exhausted. The circles under his eyes, the tightness

ow what you a

a werewolf. You m

ights like you did. No untrained whelp kills a vampire in her first shif

rcles surrounded Hollow Fang land. Red wax seals indicated known vampire incursi

me kind of weapon

ied. "I think

d up. "

he Vampire Courts. There are stories, Elara about a bloodline hidden by the Moon Go

alking in

alking in

claw-shaped sigils. Inside were pages of faded ink and drawings, wolves with s

ation stopp

r hand lifted toward a burning forest, while behind he

cien said. "A girl born of two worlds, destine

think t

then every creature in the Nightlands will come

I said, laug

harpened. "To burn th

I was summoned befor

r. They were the oldest and most powerful wolves in the Hollow Fang bloodline, chosen by tooth

. A show of dominance.

growled. A woman with frost-white ha

ered another. "The wild-

lity," Lucien said co

" the white-hair

om wen

d turne

w but firm. "I won't b

ilence was a shield. Or a

lder, tapping his clawed fingers against the sto

. "But I bled for this pack. I fought for it. I lost

ence wa

for her. She is under my prote

pled through

ours if she betrays

be

cil dism

ss the valley. My bones ached not from pain, but from the pressure build

cien befor

have defied t

't be

have rippe

hey di

er, his silhouette

aid. "Something wild. It draws dang

ger," I said, b

You're something worse

t him, rea

ning in loyalty, rage, and something colder, guilt, pe

yone else's fate," I said qui

ed. Just

tted. "That's the

the old ways

ime, he didn't

days p

movement in the east, Lycan warbands gathering near the Dead Forests. Va

m was

before it hit,

r north. Older than the Hollow

's th

ru

dagger. Silver-hilt

l need

prote

said. "Fo

north at

kmates. But as two fractured creatures s

maps did not mark. They said the moon rose red there. That time forgot its name. That

would find wh

lready

n't wait for

d the darkness w