Ashes of the Moon

e war chamber – under

g through the stone lattice. Ancient scrolls which were unrolled were placed across the long obsidian

are chasing echoes, half-truths and myths. This... M

been more than destruction. That love, when it

es to madness? That part was convenie

rp. Because the truth was too dangerous. The Moonfire Rite w

s eyes narrowing. "Why wo

erhaps she knew that she

l s

Codex, It was written before the Hollow fell. It describes a bond that was so strong, t

nsed. "That w

e. "She returned... be

ed closer to the scroll to start scanning its faded script. "

must know. The rite requires a sacrifice wh

What kind of sacrifice

looke

nt of him. "Maelin.

soul... fragmented, her lineage... eras

were curled

ver fully return. And if she remembers the pain of t

brazier. "She said she would rather bu

caught. "Does sh

d away. As Maelin looked up towards him

the Old Den, Ju

rew her here, but she kn

g stone walls. Ivy had begun to reclaim the space. It was creeping over the broke

stone. Something prompted her to come here at that moment. Actual

arved rune that was

. Li

un around at

e vis

the stone walls, while vo

houted. Liora's voice was at

ild, torn apart, "I had no choice. The t

e hissed. "Why did you let him stay,

thought I could fix it." I th

betray us. And I

led. "L

ispered, stepping close. Wh

er. "Then stand. D

st. "If the flames take me, let t

ers. "Then I will burn th

the pr

n ga

he air snapped back at her as if it was a whip,

ong her palms. They we

the, but her lung

whispered, bar

her right palm, beneath a layer of searing he

nor was it a sca

akable the shape of a crescent m

Mate

resh. It was old

ce pierced

er

d hard on stone before strong arms caught her. Kael h

flutter

el.

re," he

it was a weak attempt a

promised m

t still, his lips part

moment, he

Her last scream as

o unconsciousness, Aeryn

.Ri

he heard her mention his brother's

lm as the moonlight reve

covered h

ce of the ruined den, Kael

not just

n the mate b

. he had live

s a dark silhouette who w

ilver

re like

which was strapped to his ba