Smoke curled from the earth, charred bodies still hissing where the fire had gutted them. The clearing reeked of blood and burnt fur, every breath thick with iron and ash.

I was on my knees, the dirt scorched black beneath me, my chest heaving like I’d just torn out my own lungs.

Killian’s arm braced around my waist, iron-strong even as he trembled. Luka crouched in front of me, his face pale, golden eyes searching mine with something like fear no, not fear. Horror.

Around us, the ...