Bonded To The Alpha God of War
she said, her voice folding into a practical hush, “gather only what you can move without notice… If you can sew it into the lining of your clothes, do it. Hide what you must hide. No one moves. Until Luna Anana gives the signal.”
Slowly, one by one, they nodded, each head a serious dip. Eyes met eyes, promises made in the space between breaths. Everybody understood what secrecy meant: the Crescent Moon watched itself, and traitors wore no uniform.
…
When Lyra returned to her room hours later the night had already hung itself across the sky. She stood at her mirror and met her own eyes… the ones she had used to smile gently during the day. Tonight they were sharp as flint. She drew her dark