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Kia ra

Before Raina wiped away the Moon God’s shadow beasts, they roamed the world, devouring everything in sight. Their method of attack was to surround their prey, their incorporeal bodies wrapping around the victim while turning them to ash. Yet even after the Moon God learned of their wickedness, he protected them as one would their own kin.

Excerpt from Asidian Lore: a Tale of the Gods

T he sickening crunch of flesh and bone filled the air.

Lorian’s pet dug its jagged teeth into Harlow’s arm, those blue eyes glowing with hunger.

Our silent but deadly protector hadn’t let us down.

I glanced to the heavens and delivered a quick thanks to Lorian just as Harlow roared. He struggled to thrust up with his dagger, but the beast clamped down harder.

The Fox wasted no time crawling away from the predator. She sprang to her feet and raced to my side. “What in the living hells… Is that a damned jaguar ?”

Harlow screamed in agony as he placed both hands on the creature and shoved it off. His right arm hung limply as he rose, his black shirt damp with blood. The beast bared its teeth and circled his new prey, seeming to almost smile. Brax was playing with his food; the lieutenant would’ve been dead already if the jaguar wished it.

My hand flexed around my weapon as I watched Harlow’s face twist in pain. I didn’t particularly like the man, but watching him being ripped apart had my heart dropping into my stomach.

The jaguar lunged again, growling with intent, but the lieutenant evaded him, nimbly angling to the side. I was surprised he was still on his feet.

“I’m here to help you, Kiara! Call off your guard dog!” he begged, just as the jaguar struck, this time clawing at his leg. The frayed rips of his trouser bared flashes of pale skin.

I lingered, caught between wanting to run and wanting to help .

Harlow wasn’t my friend. He hadn’t helped Jude escape his cell. But the fact that he let his men go gnawed at my insides. I couldn’t help feeling like I was failing a test.

The Fox was scrambling to the horses, her men on her heels. Jake was motioning me toward Starlight when Harlow spoke again.

“Aurora,” he called out when the jaguar clawed at his other leg. His clothes were nothing but shreds of ruined linen. He lashed out with his blade, slicing through the thick fur of the beast. It whimpered but didn’t flee. “I knew her as a sun priest. We have the same g-goal!”

I jolted in place, stunned by the sound of my grandmother’s name coming from his mouth.

“Kiara!” Jake frantically waved my direction, his wide eyes pleading with me to join him and run.

I stared at Harlow, even though his attention remained on his circling opponent. I could see the desperation there, the panic. He shot a brief look my way, and in that second of connection, I hesitated, rocking back and forth on my heels.

Who knew if he spoke the truth? It could be another lie. My life was filled with them.

And…that was my answer; he had to be lying. If he had the same goal, then he’d have released Jude when he’d had the chance. They were supposed to be brothers, family—and yet he’d left him locked inside that rank cell to be tortured.

I wasn’t like him.

“Brax, stop,” I commanded the jaguar, whose taut body froze. Slowly, he unclenched his teeth from Harlow’s muscle, easing back from his prey. He looked unpleased.

“You don’t even deserve that mercy,” I said over my shoulder as I took off in a sprint, suspecting that Harlow hadn’t come alone. There could be a horde of men awaiting us.

Jake let out a sigh of relief when I pulled myself atop Starlight. The Fox, Dimitri, and Finn were already out of sight.

Harlow called out, sending my heart battling against the confines of my rib cage. His voice alone grated on my fraying nerves, his betrayal cemented in my mind.

“I’ve been protecting Jude for years. Doing what was always best for him. And you , Kiara!” I heard a body meet the ground, followed by a choked groan. “A-Aurora trusted me. It w-will be too late soon!”

I tensed, wishing to go back and question him, but Jake called my name, reminding me there could be others giving chase at this very moment.

We’d reached the top of a grassy hill, the Fox and her men near its peak. Starlight’s muscled back tensed beneath me, and I clutched her mane in place of the reins, leaning across her lithe body. I hadn’t the time to saddle her.

Two figures approached on foot, the clouds stretching across the moon making it impossible to see if they wore the Guard’s red tunics. I simply knew they weren’t part of our group of misfits. Meaning they must’ve tailed Harlow.

I urged Starlight on with a gentle kick to her belly, sending us barreling toward our newest enemy with ice in my veins. When I got near enough, my shadows lashed from my body in a burst of raw energy, the darkness climbing up my arms and rising above my head until I was cocooned in their soothing chill. My power flowed forth and curled around the two men, squeezing tightly. Gasps echoed and their hooded forms crumpled.

Some depraved part of myself smiled, and I exhaled in relief.

Truth or lies. Friend or foe. Right or wrong. All of it blurred to form one macabre painting of blood and loss. None of it mattered. I wouldn’t allow one more person to hurt me. To hurt those I loved.

I tightened my shadows as they slithered up the men’s necks. Choking and gurgling noises met my ears.

The buzz in my veins intensified, and I became drunk off the high of the power at my fingertips. It was so damned right . Nothing else had felt this wondrous, this easy. I wasn’t Kiara anymore, not a girl with the weight of the kingdom on her shoulders.

I was the night itself, and how I reveled in all of its darkness.

Curling my fingers, I tightened my hold on the intruders. Anger and frustration mingled together and became my driving force, pushing me to explore the deepest corners of my soul. My emotions commanded my magic , and I didn’t even attempt to restrain them.

That was when Starlight lifted onto her hind legs—

And bucked me off.

I toppled to the ground with a cry, my head colliding against stone. Black spots fizzled across my vision, and the ice I’d embraced receded to its prison.

A figure stalked toward me, their form fuzzy, a hood pulled down over their eyes. My head lolled to the side as a man crouched above me.

He whispered one word, one name. Mine .

I shut my eyes and let the night come.