pte

NE POINT

ve up. Not

s. Uncle Marcus didn't die just so I could fade into nothing. He believed I

e in that cafeteria, like

home, but I stay hidden behind stacks of dusty books. The librarian, Mrs. Chen, doesn't seem

Ancient Werewolf Practices" stares back at me in faded

gic I don't understand. About powers that died out centuries ag

ave to find out a

pulsing with unnatural light. The way it seemed to drink

pulse made

t a whisper. A ghost of what she used to be. Even

cient packs to control rebellious wolves. Often crafted from obsidian or dark sa

tches. This

reating a barrier between human and wolf consciousness. Prolonged exposure

o connection to any

y human e

as he been wearing it? How much time do

ue reading. "All known binding stones were supposed to be destroyed. However

lies. Like t

nything about breaking the connection. Abo

ir effect," another passage says. "The further the victim

at's one way

at a future. Uncle Marcus died believing I could make somet

to be an

g together. Information about moon phases and counter-spel

s Cr

y ribs. Mrs. Chen stands at the end

ys gently. "I've been letting you stay,

t felt lik

ng the book. "I was just rese

ow. "Ancient Werewolf Practices? That's quit

heeks. "It's for

something knowing in her eyes. Something that ma

s even lower, barely a whisper: "Be careful, Miss Cross. The last girl who

walks away. Her footsteps echo thro

door. The parking lot is nearly empty now. Only a

sand. The binding stone's effects haven't worn off just because I know what

are probably at work or out with friends. People with normal lives w

My fingers hover over the search engine. Maybe

gs up nothing useful. Just fanta

artifacts" gives m

bonds" leads to a bunch of

modern world has forgotten about real magic. About the thin

be it means fewer people k

sn't know everything abo

. I claw through websites like a starving wolf digging for scraps. Nothing. Fantasy

ory" finally brings up

back hundreds of years. Names and dates that mean

of supernatural artifacts. Rumored to have possess

has been in Ronan's family for generati

pack's rise to power. About their reputation for

appearances of rival wol

t necklace? How many wolves have been stripp

atest in a long

makes me angry. Real anger that cuts th

st barely. Just enough to remind me

ing down wit

t the Nightbane family. About their methods. Their weaknesses

charity galas and business deals. Pictures of

wspaper archive, I find

Mysterious Illness" reads the

ious at Blackclaw Academy. She'd been weak and disoriented for week

ng to the follow-up article, she transferred schools imm

lf who got too close to so

. If this happened before, there migh

rns can b

h a text message. U

me stones are bett

s what I'm doing. Somehow, he knows

r. But underneath it, something else

Let him see m

nd I'm going to learn everyth

kes everythin

ers that barely work:

ely: *"I don't have to. The

rashes over me like a wave. My vision b

s even here. Even in my own home. Th

ious. Force myself to keep readi

connection to the supernatural world. Any chance of p

him erase me

t kills what's l

in another search. The cursor blinks

d a way to destr

e saving myself. I'll be reminding him and everyo

ts me everythi