Chapter 5: The Poisoned Well

The “victory” celebration in Sunflare was a waking nightmare. Thorne clapped me on the back, his eyes shining with a pride that made my stomach turn. The warriors toasted my name, their voices loud with admiration for the Luna who had drawn Shadowmoon blood. I smiled, I nodded, I accepted their praise with a heart of stone. The gash on my shoulder, cleaned and bandaged, throbbed with a dull, hypocritical pain. It was nothing compared to the searing ache in my chest, where the bond felt like...