THE FORSAKEN LUNA'S JOURNEY

to the back of my throat like a choking vapor. I wove my way through the thronging crowd, doi

ais that served as our council platform. All eyes were locked on the imposing fi

surable loss and tragedy in these past few moonspans. Innocents slaughtered..." Here his voice wavered minutely, so subtle I might have missed it had I no

asy. Victor's pause was masterfully measured, letting the weight of his w

r far too long." He turned then, those glacial blue eyes drilling into me with searing intensity. "Tell me, Sel

instinctively shrank back, my palms slick with a cold sweat as the

possibly believe

rong mute once more. "Witnesses have come forward, corroborating acts of malicious subter

lood pack swears he witnessed you covertly prowling along their periphery two nights before their ranks were decimated. And Gustav of Ir

mning proclamation. Somewhere behind me, a f

wn daughter could not be c

ce. I was too stunned, too thoroughly disoriented to even muster an ounce of indignation at

very pocket and crevice until the very trees leaned in to catch his words. "Were you not indeed presen

fluttering like terrified moths in my breast as the eyes of

led forth in a frantic rush, my composure cracking beneath Victor's piercing scrutiny. "Never could I fatho

cise times." It was a statement, not a question, droppe

y as I might, I could not refute the damning facts he had laid out so starkly. I had indeed been present in the vici

rocities when my entire existence had been shap

raised above the tide of accusations now crashin

e crowd, golden eyes blazing with an intensity rarely seen

to his words, his canines glinting beneath curled lips. "I have indulged Selen

ven begin formulating a reply, he pivoted, pacing the length of the dais like a caged predato

alpha." When next Victor faced me, there was no warmth in his gaze, no flicker of re

r and Luna-In-Waiting. What gifts you possess no longer mer

like one sharply indrawn breath. I could only stare back at Victo

y own kind. In one fell swoop, the trajectory of my life had bee

mes for which you have been accused are too grievous to

mournful chorus. It was the ancient rite of exile, performed only under the d

as surely as a physical force. Panic settled like a vise around

brought me to this nightmare, standing accused and conde

ense of beyond the keening wails echoing through my mind. Then Ethan was t

ith acid venom; jaw clenched so tightly a tendon

ference. "So be it, wretched ingrate. Y

ng out like smoke on the wind as he swept past the agog faces of o

ty crashing down around me. Victor had spoken, and with his d

did not commit, I was now cursed to wander the wilds, a lone scapegoat beari

d in my core amid the maelstrom of despair threatening to pul