Night should have been quiet.

Instead, the moon bled.

From the throne of ash, I lifted my head and saw the full moon splitting like a wound in the heavens. Silver light dripped red across the courtyard, staining the stone, the wolves, even Kael’s skin.

The emissaries wailed and threw themselves down. “The Goddess sees! The Goddess punishes!”

Kael staggered forward, snarling at the sky. His muscles tore open under the light, as though unseen claws raked him. Blood welled down his back, ...