Page 16 of The Midnight Death Match

I kneel by the stream’s edge, running my fingers through the cold current.

In a moment, everything changes. The forest quiets, and the air shifts.

My senses leap into high alert, and I shoot to my feet, heart slamming.

A howl sounds. It’s sharp. Wrong. Closer than it should be.

Too long, too human.

Harek’s hand is already on his blade. “That’s not wild.”

“No, it’s not. There’s another werewolf out here.” A terrifying realization hits me. “One that doesn’t rely on the moon to shift.”

One like me.

My palm glows orange. The wolf may be able to shift apart from the moon, but that’s where the differences end. This fae is a threat.

Harek’s gaze meets mine, and in a flash, we burst into a run. Branches rustle behind us as Vash follows.

We move as quickly as possible in human form. I’d shift, but Harek is limited to the days surrounding the full moon.

The howl echoes again—even closer now, cutting through the trees like a blade through butter.

My palm grows brighter, and my sword’s etchings light up. I should have brought my mother’s shield, but it’s too late for that now.

Instinct hums from my core. The woods feel heavier here, every root and leaf laced with tension.

Something is burned into the side of an ancient pine. A crest. I stop, and Harek pulls up beside me. I study the marred bark. At first glance, it looks like the hunter mark. But it’s warped, with the edges twisted back on themselves and the lines bleeding out like veins. It pulses faintly in the fading light.

“Another totem.” Harek’s tone is grim.

“This one’s different. Personal.” I step closer.

Something crackles behind us. A low growl sounds.

A full energy ball forms in my palm. We’re on top of the other shifter. I spin around, keeping my hands behind me.

Leif steps from the trees. He isn’t fully shifted. His eyes glow amber in the dim, his teeth a little too sharp. His hands are human, but curled like claws. “Hello, sister.”

His tone sends a shiver through my spine, and I take a step forward, still hiding my palm. I won’t use the magic against my brother.

Harek blocks me from moving closer to Leif.

My throat tightens as I realize what his shift means. He’s killed. “What have you done?”

He shrugs, casual. “I stopped pretending.”

“Who did you kill?” My voice is higher than I want, giving away my stress.

He smiles without warmth. “Someone always dies.”

Harek steps forward, tense. “That isn’t what she asked.”

Leif’s gaze flicks to him. “Oh, goody. The trusty sidekick is here too.”

I take a step forward, ignoring the rising growl in Leif’s throat. “Why did you do it? Did you know about the werewolf curse, or are you just a murderer who found out the hard way?”

“Do you really care?” He taps his foot like he’s bored.