Betrayed by her Blood. Claimed by the Night.

SPE POV: Fu

ying pressure of the whole Covenant watching-all of it congealed into a formless, heavy weight in m

illed my latent gifts

oth wearing expressions of increasing confusion. Fo

d, as if I hadn't already been tr

e a low, fierce growl of impatience: "That's

e irritation that flared through my terror. I

iestess intervened. "Lavinia, you are overth

The whispers had started in the crowd-scandalized m

is powerful form radiating concern. Even

to Awaken her gif

!" I exclaimed.

voice laced with venomous disappointment.

of hair behind my ear. It was impossible to hide how

"Try to focus on the earth beneath your feet.

it did tingle. I sensed something faint at the edge of my consciousness, a gentl

me look of baffling disappointment o

eless

epping into the light. He was fully in his human fo

," I said, folding my ar

rked, his usual

rough. "It's the truth. Babying h

and raw fury. "This is the most you've even spoken to me in year

r the startled murmurs of the court. I had ju

rous gold. For the first time all night, he was ge

ing a simple Rite," he spat, the words deadly low, dripping with contempt.

physical blow, eclipsing the earlier shame. In its

around me compress, and the grass beneath my bare feet seemed to wither and recoil. My vision tunneled, but through the rage, I suddenly sa

med, visceral force that exploded from my

ing outward-the scorching heat, the frustration, the sheer,

ring violently, momentarily dimmed. A choked sound-a gasp of pain and

n aura congealing into terrifying stillness. Zilo spun around, his fa

unding awed and utterly stunned. "She h

with raw, vibrating energy. It was a shield and a weapon, humming wit

y, but in a maelstrom of lust and challenge. He wiped a streak

ted out, his voice a promise of violen

red beneath the Blood Moon, and I knew exactly what