a's

st inaudibly. Are

nished. The guilt, the anxiety

oughout every inch of my body-and the so

not your

lied as I drifted through t

on. I longed for his arms

me loath

ell upon a frigid floor quite forcefully. The Eme

I hea

lau

ic. Rid

, the moon's favore

ned a

perfect as always. His eyes sparkled w

nds. Only human

lt s

came after me here.

oided loo

te." "But I have to admit, he p

. Everything consider

nt her to pass away. I was a

broken," I retor

shiny. Still

every time I look at you, I

mance nonsense. He moved forward, his voice falling.

t you use i

e said. You will be mine the

he earth, faint golden runes sprang to li

his hand; I fe

ing my body to quiver in agony.

hlessly, but the words

"You don't understand. That pow

using," I said, pulling myself up.

plosion of silver energy shot from my palms, knocking Ki

y direction. Lyra, s

you care." You sold me ou

idea what he would do.

icily. I was at

s trembl

e but coated in dust and blood, he

ightness i

led, "

yes l

urrounding us

ghtlessly. Unreasoned

rms, clutching me as t

eeling, he said, "I

st myself. "But

eyes searching my own

ut I'm going to ha

ast me. "Is t

gre

hed. I ought

d allo

messed up, Kael cut him off." Mi

returned." Doesn't

tated. No

e. Truly. But you believe love

de me. Not at all

You actually think she can ma

ael remarked. She is

hone as I

my tribe. You exploited me and Damien.

tightened. "An

longer

ght from the moon. Ancient and pure. It surrounded me

hand. I sta

more po

smile f

nd to hit, but D

u up to? Ki

bled. I am finished

an retorted, stabbing Damie

ed from

N

, blood gus

ad in my lap, I

oftly. I e

tears. "You did no

st. Lyra doesn

ody became

the go. Lyra, he's

seething. P

an, who suddenly

trength? I rema

with everyt

lluminated

when the d

y...

the cham

hing's wrong." The Em

e runes all

d softly. I woke up

rs. Hear me out. You m

't kno

u do. Believ

t, no

Pulsing, the Emera

my mother once mu

a vestra

kered, light and

h

ht me fal

ecame hazy. "

e nodded. "Yo

y. Alright. Fig

head against mine

as I shut

y, a voice r

n. C

't rest

both stop

man wrapped in moonlight and blood

Kael

ady g

ld was ma

fted h

the room and cras

, pushing mys

voice was st

iumphed, Lyra. This was

ppeared in a

down nex

reathing

us-the moon t

t I have to do

ed. Stop! It

ed down

not your

n split. The

in a whirlwind

d dark, I ye

tion of regret and resolve. Time is not on our

I felt the wind rip into my face. The ground under us shook once

hat lay ahead? More significant