The stake of fire

ed on my shoulders long bef

. Not with declar

crap of parchment on the table in f

ve n

ve w

survival now bala

idn't feel like mine. It smelled of mountain stone, cold furs, and old iron. There were no wind

o of the Trial. Still feel

ey wanted

to laugh.

d? That was something else. Somethi

rong word, a delay of seconds could mean someone else's t

n strategy. No grea

did kn

t looked like whe

promise of a storm. The air was thick with moisture and tension. Our party asse

scabbard. She gave me a long, unreadable look before n

te

watched her

f the formation. Jerek's hair was damp with sweat despite the cold. Talven c

ne. I didn't offer encouragement. I didn't lie. I l

horse and gave t

Hollow was older tha

here grew too tall, too tightly packed. Their trunks twisted toward the sky like claws, their

at they whispered to those who listen

wled through the pine needles, I beg

riding beside me. "The tree

nif

ath the damp moss and decay

mething olde

gic," I w

odded

rest of the p

darkened into a bruised violet. The rain hadn't yet fallen

we found the

Mouth agape. The expressio

d in the mud. Jerek reached to help him,

oached

from something more invasive. His veins were still visible beneath the skin

pire'

ude. Too r

k the collar

d with surgical precision, was a

beside me.

was a girl. Of wolves and vampires who betrayed their kin to create of

oods," I

than that. No gods. N

alled from the far e

e got

llowe

dies. Hollow

, hands folded, eyes

ne. Some burned into the sk

cut out and replace

sed under

ed away an

d to the chest of the one

e me. "They did this re

watching,

the trees. "And th

our senses be

f flame that clung to the air long

and resting lightly on the hilt of my dagger. My white wolf form paced ju

e clearing lit by torchlight and ring

beneath h

nle

fire like polished obsidian. Their bodies bore scars arranged in cer

ang scout, half-conscious, arms outstretched between two pikes jammed into the mud. Blo

ized the

ng. But n

mem

one stepp

als. His hair was white, falling in thin ropes to his sho

he whispered. "

murmured

f the Moon'

Syla inhaled slowly, her fin

ees and bowed until his forehead

, blade drawn. "You'll

slow as

me. The wind carried your sc

ead hi

re the

attack, but to kneel, to prostrate

e rise in

m all," I

ire f

hey l

onstrosities, fangs lengthened, limbs bent backward, eyes glowing like

them mi

ted mid-run, my claws lengthening, fangs baring, eyes turning silve

off his feet befo

crea

of them dragging

!" I s

ted, then ra

to back against four, blades flashing. One fell. The

d sp

h blades into the Moonless's spine

to the cu

n the center, arms sp

hildren," he sai

d mine first

smi

re bec

ung

t his chest

Thick, armor-like, ja

head into min

orld

anger

n, not fully wolf, b

red to life, casting silver flame across the clearing

nfi

in didn't e

ader shield

ered, awe and terror

in, this tim

touched his skin. Not

dissolve, pieces f

d. "You are me

e's god,"

gain and h

nce

ods. A few were cut down. Most disappeared between the

ill breathing. B

trembled. Not with pain, but with exhaustion. I had burne

up at me, eyes wi

e," he said. "You're

rned

nt to hear

to Hollow Fang

even r

missing. One, Talven never even screamed a second time. Only the

ounds still weeping. Others, Jerek espe

ainst my tunic. My blade sat sheathed at my side, pulsing faintly with lef

t the heat

ame in

er in m

t ceremony. Lucien waited beneath the arc

our numbers. He c

hed seven did his

ithout breakin

he said. No

sing," I

lve

him scream. Je

oice was low. "And you burne

es

d. "You were tol

've killed

e. Then his voic

d you e

lin

he truth

lt like I belonged in that fire. Like I

I was

" I

, softer than before, h

o the train

battles. He walked to the center and stood there,

owed s

nd corpses," he said. "Most

there's a diff

tur

irst time, hi

ollow Fang. The chosen son. The last thread tying this pack to the

than the Moonless

es

d the weigh

odd

lost

ded a

stepped

come to l

th to speak but

y shoulder. "You're still standi

feel li

n't. No

gers li

aved s

I br

omething inside me split. Not p

dn't

carry it i

ey gathered in

ast. Not

lis

ere Lirael once ruled, where Lucien'

blood. Bearing marks of some

ons

ead

ues

. But they hea

e. We came back with seven. And I

le

s hand. Varn screamed and still fought until hi

ire s

But the old war. The one beneath the skin. The one no one writ

around at

ill not be in retreat. It will be in command. With teeth bared. With

. Thick

a steppe

twin swords and drove it

Flame,"

s fol

by

he Fl

he Br

e Whit

irst time, I

one, watching the last of the storm roll away. Th

me, cloak over

Just stood besi

, he said, "T

kno

llow you

wed. "Yo

oked

owly, reache

follow,

w, but unwaverin

dn't

t

er in that rain-soaked silence, I

oward

oward

wouldn't fa