Blood Ties And Moon Fire

n Aria and Luca clasped hands. Hours had passed, yet her skin still tingled where the crescent mark burned faintly against her wris

even by choice but by blood and some

ca

, according to Luca, the witch's tomb still slept.The world changed as they moved farther from Moonwell territory. The air turned colder, the trees darker, the sky a deeper shade of iron.Aria kept her distance, always walking a few paces behind him, her hand never far from the hilt of her blade. She told herself it was caution. It wasn't. It was control. Because the l

, voice low, "tha

something disarming about him. Not the way he looked though his beauty was infuriating but the way he didn't act like the monster she expected.They reached a ridge overlo

id. "Once the seat of my anc

uins. "And you wan

I'm right, it'll explain why our bloodlines were bound.""And if you're wrong?"He

Shadows clung to the stones like smoke. The gates, twiste

e drip of water, the scrape of metal felt amplified. Luc

along the walls scenes of battle, betrayal, and sacrifice.Aria paused before a mural. It showed

Luca murmured bes

our bloodlines," Ar

prince, like you loved your pack. When he chose his people over her, s

ed flames. "So this war

"Love is the most da

lence between them shifted not cold now, but electr

e lower chambers. The air grew thicker, the darkness alive with whispers. The corridor walls were lined with ancient runes, a

el that?"

of a crescent moon bleeding into a star. The moment Luca touched it, the mark on his wrist flared. The door groaned open

he firelight cast strange shadows across his face. She could see the ex

if we destroy

he curse might end. O

t sound c

m n

for a long momen

apon," he said quietly. "I want

enses. She stepped closer too close.

" he murmured, her name like a secret.She froze. "Don't." But he didn't move closer, didn't touch her. He only looked and somehow, that was worse."Every time I close my eyes," he said, "I see fire. I hear screams. And now, I see you in the middle of it. I don't know if you're my salvation or my doom."Her throat tightened. "Maybe I'm b

ayal... your bloo

shape tall, radiant, terrible.

" Luca b

urse I forged? You think your love stronger than blood?"Ar

smoke. Luca shouted something in the ancient tongue, raising his hands the mark on his wrist blazing. The air erupted

the citadel. The fire was gone. The night was silent. Luca

ispered. "But we wea

sitting up. "W

ost smiling. "You threw your

n't me

said softly.

ay. The hatred she'd clung to for so long was fraying,

for her hand just briefly, enough for the marks on their wri

dded. "

something between them had already changed

low, the witch's laughter sti

was far

ly begun