Moonbound Lies

been ambushed now lay scattered with bodies,some writhing in pain, others forever still. The sky bled

pressed them against a gash on Kade's side. His face, pale and slick with

e growled, blood bubbling

ds began to glow faintly, a shimmering silver mist wrapping around his wound. She felt a sur

th was laced with both pain

choed through the forest. It wasn't a cal

ragging at his side. "They're regrouping," he spat.

twisted. "We ha

" Riven said grimly,

d. "Leave me. Pro

born defiance. "I'm not l

ind shifted, carrying with it the scent of lavender and old earth. The silv

ing, cut through the chao

ss, her long white hair falling to her waist like a river of moonlight. Her ey

pered, recognition stri

Kade, battered and fevere

the bloodied ground. Around her, the earth seemed to breat

'd come," A

a said, her voice a gentle storm.

hard. "Why now?

art. The silver mist danced between them, and his

our great-grandmother forged a pact,one of peace and protection. In exchange

tightened.

ts... murdered by those who feared what you would become. The war you s

ow, ragged growl

this battle is no longer fought with ste

of loss, of years spent hiding, of watching innocents

t I do?"

Accept what you are. Only then can you

igures emerged,Draven's loyalists, bloodied but unbroken. At their fr

f a dead age. And you, girl... yo

r mist thickening around her. "

And who will

her face a mask of hate. "Ki

. "No, child. Not

tated. "C

. "Those bound by blood and p

her voice rising in an ancient tongue she'd

orus of howls answered

r eyes glowing silver. Spirits of the fallen, the ones long buried beneath the Bl

" she wh

nce, proud

et steel, and men screamed as their weapons passed harmlessly through ethe

in fury. "You

Her hands glowed, weaving sigils in the air. Their blade

o join the fight, cutting down enemies with savage precision. Riven a

led the Moon Goddess's blessing. Draven's strikes slowed, w

Aria told him, t

n snarled. "You can't h

he said softly. "I j

d, engulfing them both. When it cleared, Draven lay u

remaining trait

fore vanishing into mist. Aria's father lingered a

voice was a memory and a

too wa

od moon still hung above, but it

ace haggard but resolu

her power recedin

left only her voice. "The past is n

ustion and grief washing

er into a weary embrace. "

ht, it wa