The Bloodmark of Velaris

ked above Ni

of rain a

ck but had been shielded by the Moon Goddess herself. The prophecy was no longer a r

all, Kael stood before

ay eyes like shards of ice. "You were bound to Lyra by bl

h. "And what of f

t the floor. "Bonds can be tested. Bu

his skin, snarling again

," Kael said, voice low.

led throug

There is an ancient law," she said. "If a Luna has falsely claimed her place

clenched. "

mple sanctuary, Seraphina

ess Mireya and Elias both no

ireya whispered. "Lyra will

ng into the fire. "The

e. She's trained in shadow magic. If she binds her wolf to the Dar

strength," Seraphina murmured.

erous. But it was

of Bloodlight an ancient ceremony where oaths were tested by the moon i

was one s

Seraphina's old packmates from the Emberclaw rogues. The girl had r

," Lyra growled, voice

e would bring fire and light. And when t

rled. "Then di

h the girl's heart and le

r: anyone who chose

f the Rit

cle beneath the open sky. The full moon

rst, her white gown marked only by

lad in black, the dagger of

the Crescent Blade. "By the will of the Moon, we cal

dge of the circle,

allowed to

d to save her if

o trust

hickened. Then.

truck Se

yes g

her chest ignited

ind her the royal c

se from t

r," Selene whispered

a didn'

laug

... she

sive and black, infused with shadow. T

kro

ad dr

lun

. Eyes blin

f form-sleek, white, glowing at the edges-w

a roar that shook

His wolf, Ashen, howled inside him. "Sh

Goddess

Seraphina's wound, once left by t

rounde

he ro

ed back, her b

nt and terrible. Her voice echoed

THREAT. I AM

ame th

a second figure

Cal

's m

n dagger-and she wasn't

ned it

," she spat, plunging t

d gu

l f

s er

ina sc

m, her fury twisted into horror.

prophecy never said you would

ina. "That child in your

one f

a gasped

her voice suddenly ancient and eerie. "Twins. Blessed

wasn't just a

hat she would

s Seraphina knelt by him, he

se you," sh

u too late,

ispered. "Ju

s's light descended once

unds bega

of the bla

lapsed,

nished into

he pr

only ju