ect us, it wanted us clos

ike a wall, but I

he specific pattern of something that had been done

Kael was sti

t I had ti

e in the dark, the Howl reading the ground before my feet found i

im before

olled and aimed at somet

you one more tim

h the trees a

wolves in a loose circle - human form, which mean

me over t

o before I fully caught it. But I felt it

r

't sta

t have

ointed at him. Ten bodies between us. And something in m

Howl

ifferent. Faster. Bigger. The wall was coming down entirely bec

rough me l

he animal underneath the human flinching back from something it

ed pulse aimed at

nd

stepped back.

he conditioned ones, the loyal ones, b

didn'

ree seconds. Then he was beside me, and his hand was

el good abou

r

g. Behind us, the wolves regrouped. I could feel them throug

econds w

rock formation. The same

g the same. For a moment, there was nothing but our breathing

was still

't lett

four of the

," I

oked

ft lowered his han

His thumb moved just once,

"Without shifting. Without touching

aren

f Hollow bloodline accounts, a fully realized Selene line

head of s

und that wasn't quite a laugh. The

st tig

f schedule," he

r the extract

my arm. I didn't mov

ietly. "It amplifies

es

ng here, ri

o that." His eyes held mine

is thumb stroked

I said. "Your father wi

es

move

er. This just changes what

he deali

ontainable." He looked at me. "What you jus

t is

eyes. "A

who had been planning around me for eighteen years and ha

o

aid. "We need

t better tha

between Kael and me with the expression of a man rap

Show me exactly

Reached for the Howl, opened it, pushe

eaned simultaneously. T

his fingers

ldn't do that un

reason,

me. At Kael

't say

n't ne

th the maps. Merek was asleep i

and put one in front

at it. T

me out

es

with my fa

kno

ia.

were alone. The answer wa

the tea. Hi

d have be

ould

as s

ped both hands around my cup. Lo

ot a thing to be protected. I'm the person standing

t me for a

, not the almost smile, not the car

quietly. "I'm st

n fas

outh

of for days, finally assembled. It changed his whole face. Made him look you

two seconds. T

'd se

my wrist was absolutel

Tell me what it actua

d the ma

s in danger, the other feels it. Specifical

ew I was losing co

es

were bleeding af

e amplifies your power. Not because of the bond, because of what the bond is built

red a

t here because

m. Clear. "The bloodline is the reaso

anchors mine. That's why he wanted you to deliver me

tightene

aelan didn't just want me. He wanted us. T

her. Did he ha

fore taking. My fath

chen we

or so she couldn't r

es

l broke the s

ael's face. Pride.

e said.

was, apparently, the reason I was capable of what I'd

hoice. His.

d do with h

arrived. I

days,"

ays," h

t was quiet. No pack. No sign

very edge.

ndred

a

chi

h the Howl. G

I'm almo

tree line pulsed

rtbeat ans

e. His fingers laced through mine, sl

't pul

ist. The Seal flared hot, bright,

e said. L

ked a

amber anymore.

it's fully realized it do

does i

er. His forehe

s," he whispered. "Thin

mth at the tree