Crimson Howl: The Luna's Tale

NARD

kull like a war drum, relentless

e to say it.

her at that moment as she cracked, right there in the courtyard, her shoulders e

ht I'd be

couldn't name. Her blame was a blade, and it had f

eyond these walls, I'd thrown myself between her and them, consequen

aned into the stone. My hands, wrapped tight behind me. I kept my brea

n. Fou

behind them, the pain designed not to destroy but to awaken. Sh

n... sh

arried sarcasm like a blade. No, this one had been s

d I was for that version of

said go

Brushed from her lips

d

urn

before the

the warmth of that smile, I would

ot to claim. Not to possess. Just to ancho

wasn't

ully? Neit

ept wa

wly. Her voice haunted the silence behind me. That look

eneath the collar of my shirt, tryin

dn't

s ever

d look at me again-not wi

t day, I would

n't be

ENA

etween my hands. Nothing but a quiet stretch of nigh

the words slipping past my lips

Just the wind brushing again

rack and break whatever piece of me was still holding on. My hand mo

Scuffed. Mud on the heel. Alway

iven anything to

omething I said?" My voice cracked, barely

with the hem of my shirt, twisting, untwisting. "Wa

clicked shut-soft, deliberate. Like the e

t. I pressed a

ook back," I murm

before they reached the walls. I sat there, motionless. My legs f

maybe hours. Time d

-I m

ed to the dresser. My fingers brushed over the wooden fram

t his ha

ma

re worn soft

ve, sweetheart. S

to my chest, eye

blanket. Straightened the books. Picked up a fal

is time, "You are not

to my pocket and gla

trembled, but it he

imagination, I wish I ha

. Just the creak of the house settli

me, somet

me in days, I didn't

agged myself up on the pull-up bar, again. Sweat dripped down my back, s

mething

mming prickle that only e

soft thud. My boots barely mad

eps be

s the reas

o we hav

ough the space, coat

And there they were, Dane and Dav

I said, voice calm, e

the edge. "You remember

t what sticks

the room with casual a

ide, aching to curl into fi

st one. But it was enough to

"You've got fire. Alw

n't,"

he sting. That has

fted-hoveri

said, voice low, "and you'll

ething darker. "Easy,

call me

ath warm. "You've grown in

back,

ually. But th

urveying the poor. "So. The little exiled brat made

. "Or maybe I earn

aw tw

ll proud. Even with no o

cles t

glancing at Dane with exaggerat

e stre

-he

Gone just like that." His fingers snappe

s landed heavily, but I

a reaction. I

hough the smirk betrayed h

ne

d to scare me

oice even. "You're right. Ther

pa

should ter

eyes sparkled with challenge. "Why? B

eliberate. "Because now I've

e grin clean

all this bravado? It'll break in the ring. We'll

You think this is s

ink it

"This isn't a game.

elt colde

"you're just one more

ath, I di

I s

aid softly. "Every word.

d bl

ushing him as I walked by. The scent of aggression

asn't that

linched when whispers followed her through the halls. Not the o

the last apolo

xit, hand on the

yed out of this,"

r my shoulde

You should've s

I l

me, I didn'