h in the sky, yet

e, knees to chest. The bed remained unbroken alongside her. Ta

r bones like some sick

t the only

e voice of the Moon Goddess coiled around her ribcage like a snake. The silver field, the creeping

she didn't

fastened her dark cloak over her shoulder. She stuck a dagg

the room

ger was sh

as st

est holdings-a shortcut that had been used by the younger wolves for cutting into training late or into trouble early. T

she

derbrush. A scent she hadn't smell

turned

fr

she sai

s hunched, cloak patched and travel-worn. She looked older gaunt, more fragi

ispered. "You're r

"You have the nerv

pulled on her hands. "I couldn't help but think about w

was calm. Hollowed out. "You watched and let them tear me apa

ice shaking. "I was warned... if I

er expression didn't shift, but her voice became raspy. "I would h

ng with tears. "That's why I'm h

hood spent whispering among the stars. She recalled seeing them-couchant in furs, sn

hained, bloodied, burning, a

want?" she

d quickly. "I just. I found something

yes narrow

, yellowed piece of parchment bearing the seal of the ancient

ng... I was in the council chambers tidying up after the meeting. I

slowly, fingers fol

st-parchment and some

d. "To destroy everything. But I couldn't.

her for a long

aid, voice tightening. "And because yo

eyes were bloodshot from tears. No longer the coward of the c

t into her cloak. "If this

id. "I swear on the

ned and started down the path

id over her shoulder.

the east wing of the old Pack Hall place forbidden to

ene did

anym

behind, their steps quieted by moss-covered stone. The flickering torchligh

hey went, the ch

folding her arms over herself as they appr

Selene concluded. "As i

at glowed with feeble light. She couldn't have touched it with h

e was

her hand aga

hey bent. As if they recognized her. As if the

ith a savage metallic soun

at her. "Ho

ed under her skin now the power that pulsed in her

room she recalled-one that was pri

pulse calm, cooled

drawer shut, as

d the edge of the blade over the time-worn lat

k was r

ny sealed. But one lay toward the top-older,

ara had handed h

er open and pulled the oldest

bled across the to

nviction for Treaso

here

gnat

Ka

r Mo

aled in blood. Twined

Adr

t, she coul

t she caught herself o

rd shakily. "You se

er jaw clamped so tig

she whispered. "S

ys sneered at you as if she hated how easy you made

s eyes

n developing rage against Kael-against the mate who'd

ow sh

't kill

een li

p her safe. Failed to notice her. Bu

een in

ien

orwen had s

h

she clutched the parchment. "

ere. You were bound to Kael. You were a future Luna

ad. "Powerful enoug

erful enough t

just wante

the truth bu

the document i

s cold as steel. "You speak

allowed.

Selene said ici

ll decide when he

want to help. Whatever this is going

hen shut your mouth. A

lence, their path lit by not

by the time Selene

icy with the realization that the enemy wasn't who she thought

about a

she breathed, voice low and deadly.

e flashed

Pleaded. Repented. Thought

aybe

n't make her

rime and dust of the archive from her skin. Rubbing her hands, she scowled at the

she scrubbed, it

ial grey but in wine red rich as the blood

nder if she was cursed or blessed by the Goddess.

e to rewrit

annual Moon Circle ceremony as ancient as the earth where in

ed out like