e descending instantly like a heavy blanket. He rounded the car t

my breath hitchi

not by the moon, but by hundreds of tiny white lights strung through the bran

taring at the glowing

nded a hand. His palm was warm, his g

the scent of damp earth and ancient wood. We walked until th

almost intoxicating. In the center of the clearing, beside a massive, moss-covered boulder, sat a table for two

ed off, overwhelmed.

a-bear, nothin

eyes, raw and unsettling, before he plastered on h

rape juice, rich and dark as wine into crystal glasses. "I figured

id, my voice sounding small i

spoke of the business, of the future, but his eyes never left my

his voice dropping to a g

ass down. "W

u years ago." He leaned forward, the candlelight casting sharp shadows ac

ed in my stomach. "Is Mum sic

na, promise me. No matter what I say, no matter what hap

scaring m

omis

I pro

t clearing. "We aren't siblings, Luna. You were ad

nd, the rustle of leaves-it all stopped. Adopted. The word

pered. "That's.

there. I was the one who

se, shrill and trembling. "M

know," he

ping violently against the rock. Tears pricked my e

burning hot. "You are our family. Blood or not. But there is a reason I'm

gaze scorching. "You a

ver. "Mate? Like... a soulmate?

rds falling like stones between us. "

he brother who taught me to ride a bike, who chased away my night

spered, backing away.

'm

surging through my panic. "I

of pain crossing his face. "

he candle, disappearing into the shadows of a

mmering against my rib

ra

et and loud, like a branch

p. C

air, deep enough to rattle my bones. I gri

-Li

len

arkness, a shadow

asn't

ure. The creature was massive, easily the size of a pony, its shoulders thick with m

oward me, sil

ort-circuite

dlelight. They were gold. Intell

and hurled it. It shattered against the creature's chest, dark

ates. I threw everything I could reach,

coming. Relentl

It let out a soft whine, a sound so heartbrea

ing down to the ground, pulling m

n eyes filled with a sorrow that mirrored Liam's.

rocking back and forth, waiti

Lu

e was rou

foot, his shirt gone, his pants torn and hanging low on his hips. His hair was

o him, colliding with his chest.

s neck. His skin was scorching hot, radiatin

s arms winding around me li

ok at him, relief washing ove

t brown. The

gold as

of a physical blow. I stumbled back,

ed, horror dawning.

ness vanished, replaced by a raw, hungry look t

d, the sound vibrating i

d scream, he d

ive curve of my neck. Then, sharp pain. a sudden,

Ah

bite mark, flooding my veins with fire. The world ti

e, pulling me flush against his burning ch