THRONE OF CLAWS AND FANGS

ned in Aeryn's hand.

rs around the blood-inked pape

mor barged into his room, their eyes

wled. "The Trial b

him to his feet. No breakfast. No briefing. Just cold stone, colder air, and

lowed green with runes. The academy was alive at this hour-dozens of students and instru

, arms folded, watching Aeryn with his usual

wind, golden eyes narrowed. There was something in his posture-tense, like he was wa

ed a pit filled with thorn-choked vines and black earth. Above it, the Hollow's forest loomed-a mess of

raped in crimson robes that hissed with ever

r task is simple-endure the hollow night. No spells, no help

Murmurs. Someone laugh

didn't

d beneath

, tumbling down a dark chute of screaming air and flickering

Ho

ce re

thick it looked woven. The trees were too close, trunks wide enough

and the tree be

ng. Groaned. Like a voice s

away, he

he woods, a scream to

nimal. N

hing

ned an

ed behind him-paths he thought were clear were now blocked by bra

d tree with bark like melted wax. His legs ached. His

en he saw the

he

the trees. Same

re was

" Aeryn

It stepped backward and

dden line. Runes exploded underfoot. He wa

opped from the

pir

igil. Red eyes. Pale skin. O

. "The little mutt found his

n early exit,"

lun

next, scrambled for a branch, swung wildly. The girl caugh

uscle and fury s

a

re slashed his arm open-Kael didn't flinch. He turned, headb

un

ut

aid

When they finally stopped, Kael was

t be alone,"

to be here,"

d. You're weak. Untrained. And your e

why sa

at first. He look

not the only o

ked off int

wanted to shout. To scream.

ed-and kep

e when the tree

ve unlike any other part of the forest. The air buzzed. Stone

ed into

tion was

wind howled. Roots whipped from the e

und spl

. All bone and shadow, antl

uar

crea

rushed towar

er heir-a dragon-blood with bronze scales-lunged

ut, killing one of th

s again, grabbed Aeryn,

you do?" h

don't

ardian

n the back. He gru

saw hi

el's bod

ething

ned. The silver chain at his throat f

r

es glo

aped. Not the wolf. Not va

d the sound sh

er heir

n lu

her's chest open. Swung a fallen branch like a blade,

ed towa

e bit

outed i

spered,

n fr

t slowed. Vi

od was on

breathed.

s claws. At the broken grove.

nd, unconscious, blo

urned-a

e forest swall

ial was fa