The Luna Who Burned The Pack

e d

ince the bond snapped into place and Kael

mes in my head. Every blink. Every breath. E

elf the same thing: it w

he felt it too, but didn't know what to do with it. Kael Thorn wa

hosen him without wanti

person for him

doned my work, the only thing that made me valuable, but the head healer ha

ch who sometimes came through the outer markets, muttered

uldn't l

l I knew

bration under the waning moon, hosted in the central square wi

face there, but t

eat o

k and to

to speak the words he

d look at me, see me, and remember th

hreadbare dress that once belonged to the Hall matron. I braided my

" she'd asked, worry

d. "But I nee

so I

ing roasted meat, sipping moonflower wine, telling stories they'd told a hundred times. The E

n the cent

th a crescent-moon clasp. His shoulders were squared, and his posture was perfect. Li

e moment I steppe

had sensed my nearness, and I couldn't help but shiver lightl

passed. Some whisp

chosen by the Moon... a

didn't

I kept walking. Right through the tables. Right

aw me

he said

of the platform and

clearly enough for those around

answer r

eaned in. "What is

sed a hand t

he

re squar

own at me like I was somethin

ed. My heart beat

id anything. Not since the Ritual. I f

o bond," he

nked.

re mis

rp. Unyielding. Co

me shattere

voice trembling.

on was

ple of shock moved like

oked uneasy. The m

Anything. A flicker of guilt. A fli

nothing in h

s a problem to be solved.

I said, barely holding

the platform until w

lean in

nough for the ent

worthy to sta

are wen

sion, but because my body stopped know

wrapped around me like a second skin. I could

another word and wal

he crowd returned to eatin

ayed on my knees long a

how long I

came. She tried to to

said. My voice did

tep at a time, and wa

stopp

looke

r had, really. I made it to the edge of

und, breath ragged, my skin

d in my chest, searing and unfamiliar. I clutched at

. It burst into li

a spark. Then a curl of s

e ground where I'd touched had turned bl

, staring at my h

heat did

heartbeat. Like something older than me had just awakened, s

ce Kael turned away, s

wake, and she

ng to catch my breath, tryin

steamed

nto the dirt, willin

hispered. "Ple

ves that something had cracked open. Th

leashed s

sn't goin