n't blee
ike veins of molten lava beneath his skin, pulsing with something wild and ancient. It wasn't pa
eady his breathing as Alero backed away, her ey
see?" he asked
nd came out. Her throat bob
said finally. "
tomach t
's d
she... she
wed. "That's n
r name," Aler
ole forest were holding its breath. The fire around them had snuff
wly. "What els
g at her sides. "She said the bond wa
"Then what w
arely audible.
n through K
murmured. "But he's
ond, a new sound broke
slow and
a long black coat. His silver-white hair was tied back, and a single ri
rped,-bent, like grav
flin
ively moved t
Well, well," he drawled. "Isn't this adorable? The
emerged. "W
Council buried. What her mother tried
straight
, daug
und hard, staring at him like the w
at's no
That was your mother's gift. Min
ling off his body. "She said her
ile deepened
hand-and the ring o
collapsed, clutching her ribs. The mark on her side bla
lun
move. Just flic
nded, limbs locked in pl
k this is fate? No. You're her anchor. You were picked to
rained, jaw clenc
e. She's a vessel. And that bond? It's a seal. It wa
to her elbows, breathin
ugged. "I c
ice cracked.
ut even she couldn't burn out the
er, gaze burni
s a
words settl
ng..." He paused and smiled.
ike that, h
c snapped free. He rolled to his side, he
oka
dn't a
had stood. The space still shimmered faintly,
quiet. "He w
owly. "What d
Since I was a kid, In night
at her palms. Th
escape," she said. "He'
ooked
s to rep