Trinity of shadows

elation of the ritualistic murder and the controlled attackers. The town, shrouded in its perpetual mist, se

afest place to discuss what they'd found, as witches' wards kept prying ears at bay. Ayla sat at a worn wooden table, flipping through a tom

something far older than any of us-old blood magic, the kind outlawed even by th

onan asked, his amber e

n his finger, his gaze sharp. "Blood magic destabilizes everything it

o the air. "What I don't understand is why. What does anyone

they'll come out on t

an was the first to break it, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "There's some

snapped to h

there was a faction of vampires who dabbled in blood magic. They believed i

his throat. "Hybrid

could become gods among us-stronger, faster, immune to weaknesses like silver or sunlight.

e runes... they suggest

. "And if they've succeeded, it would explain the ritual. It wasn't just abo

insane. If hybrids were so dang

ood and began pacing, her thoughts racing. "And if they've crea

d by a sharp knock at the door. Ayla raised her hand, and a shimmer o

in the coven, pushed open the door. His usually calm demeanor was g

Ayla asked, already

," Corvin said grimly. "

ed, his eyes

" Corvin said hesi

ed before he caught himself. "Lysandra was one of my

nding him. "Ronan, we need to be smart about

y calm. "This isn't just a message anymore.

dies from two factions. The pattern was clear: someone was methodically dism

-

ll three factions filled the room, their voices rising in anger. Ronan's beta, Cae

owed, his eyes blazing as he looked around the room.

ng forward. "But this isn't a simple case of one f

of our own are dead. How mu

silent as all eyes turned to her. "If we don't stop this together,

remained thick. Ayla glanced at Rona

strust settle on her shoulders. She turned to Ronan and Darian, her voice l

ly. "Then we can'

e're dealing with hybrids and blood magic, we need

lve hardening. "Then we find the s

e truce might have been cracking, but in th