The Lunar Bound

across the room. The once-thick smell of magic and tension had begun to dissipate, but t

austed-physically drained by the effort it had taken to complete the binding, mentally worn from the constant threat

had held, but she wasn't fool

retreated; they'd been forced back by the force of her magic. They were

hammer: this wasn't just about

e binding sigil had worked, yes, but her grandfather's notes had alluded to something much large

finished, too focused on the battle and the strange after-effects of the ritual to offer much in the way of comfort. Still, there was something in his gaze now, something softer th

e asked, his

ournal. "I'll be fine. But I don't think the M

from the floor, testing his weight on his injured arm. "We'll

he pieces. My grandfather... he was onto something. But these journals... they're like

with, think again. The curse doesn't just affect them. It affects everyone-everything. And you're right,

there was something strange about her-something powerful-

But... something is happening to me. When I did the ritual... I could feel it. Like something deep

I know you don't want to become what they are, but there's a

e hadn't realized until that moment how much she relied on its light, its calming presence. But tonight,

, her voice tight. "But I don

d closed earlier. "Maybe the answer's in t

had to push forward. The

, a sound interrupted her thoughts-a faint scrapi

ody going rigid as he turned toward t

of their next move. The ritual had held them off, but she knew it was temporary. She had to keep the

he ground beneath her feet begin to tremble. The power in

every muscle tensed as he braced himself. "Whateve

ned. "What do yo

l gripping his knife. A moment later, he whispered, "The Moonborn aren't just

n meant, but she could see the fear in his eyes. This wasn't

iden continued, "don'

, the door slammed open w

e twisted, the flesh stretching unnaturally across their bones, their movements jerky and animalistic. Each on

The barrier had weakened since the ritual, and

desperately tried to summon the strength to activate the sigil

ith a series of swift strikes. But it wasn't enough. Another lunged at him from

ver pendant again, her mind scrambling to recall the incantation she had just

eyes wild with hunger. Its claws shot out, grabbing her b

was hot on her skin, its growls deep and guttural, reverberatin

ugh the cabin, and then, for ju

ows, casting an eerie glow across the room. The sigil-the one she had inscribed in the air during the ri

ealized what Ai

ust hunting her. They

as the power surged within her. It was cal

she whispered, her voice st

hest. The power that flowed from it was more intense than she could have imagined. The sigil fla

em back. But as they retreated, Lana felt the pull of the curse growing stronger

begun-and so had her journey into t