The horn sounds before dawn.One long, brutal note cuts through Bloodmoon.I jolt awake.For one second, I don't know where I am.Then I feel the cold stone beneath my palm.The blood.The distant screams.Kael.I push myself upright.My hand instinctively moves to my stomach.The baby moves beneath my palm.Alive.Safe.For now.The door bursts open.Vera stands there, breathing hard, her sword already in her hand.“Aria!”“What happened?”“The eastern scouts are back.”Her face tells me everything.“They're here,” I whisper.Vera nods.“Silver Crescent?”“Not only them.”My blood turns cold.“How many?”“We don't know.”A second horn sounds.Closer.Kael appears behind Vera.His shoulder is wrapped in fresh bandages, blood already seeping through them.My chest tightens.“You shouldn't be fighting.”He gives me a look.“Neither should you.”“I'm pregnant.”“And I'm wounded.”“That isn't the same thing.”“No.” His jaw tightens. “It's worse. Because if you fall, I'll lose more than my
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