Page 52 of The Onyx Covenant

Aria nods without hesitation and nudges Orion. Theron does the same with Kieran.

The six of us edge toward the side exit fast, trying not to draw attention. I catch movement from the corner of my eye—Selene watching us. Her ice-blue eyes narrow dangerously as she tugs on Erebus’s arm, whispering urgently.

“Move faster,” I mutter, nudging Theron. I take one last look at the chaos behind us. Half the room is still arguing, while others frantically gather supplies.

Theron’s hand finds the small of my back, warm and reassuring against the sudden chill that sweeps through me.

The Harvest Ritual has begun.

Fear and excitement war in my belly. I don’t know if I’m being stupid for trusting Theron, don’t know if we’ll survive what’s coming…

But as we plunge outside together, one thought burns brighter than the rest—whatever happens in the Darkbone Peaks, I’m no longer just the priestess in training, watching from the sidelines. For the first time in my life, I’ve stepped into the heart of the conflict, and there’s no turning back.

For better or worse, I’ve chosen my path. And may the twin moons watch over us through the darkness that lies ahead.

ChapterNine

THERON

Fire burns under my skin, my blood running hot with need. Every breath brings Lyra’s scent, making my wolf scratch and claw inside me. Fuck, I need to focus, but all I can think about is bending Lyra over and fucking her.

I bite down hard on the inside of my cheek, tasting blood. Better. The pain cuts through the fog, if only for a second.

The Onyx Covenant’s grand dinner was a joke—poisoning us to show our true natures, how we really felt about our partners. As if we didn’t already know that. Animals dressed in human skin, pretending at civilization.

Now, the six of us stand at the edge of the Whispering Woods, waiting for Tarek and Melian to stop their ceremonial bullshit and send us on our way. Tall torches flank the ancient path that disappears into darkness, their flames casting dancing shadows across our faces.

“Stop fidgeting,” I tell Kieran, who’s been shifting his weight from foot to foot for the past five minutes, Rachel by his side. Her dark hair is pulled back in a tight braid, her black Umbra uniform making her nearly invisible in the night.

“I’m ready to get going before the rest of the mob follows.” He smirks. “Hate to kill fellow pack members when they inevitably piss me off.”

Lyra makes a choking, laughing sound.

“I mean the Elios twins, Cassius and Nyx,” Kieran clarifies. “Heard they’ve been practicing synchronized throat-slitting.”

“Their technique is sloppy at best,” Orion scoffs, his rigid posture making his dark blue Elios uniform look even more formal. “I wouldn’t waste your energy worrying about them.”

“You’ve been watching them train?” Aria asks, her loose hair blowing in the night breeze. Unlike Lyra, whose blonde locks practically glow in the moonlight, Aria blends into shadows almost as well as my Umbra pack does.

“Know your enemy, even those in your own pack,” Orion says simply.

Lyra steps closer to me, and the heat from her body pulses over to me. “They’re not our immediate enemies,” she says. “Our priority is completing our objective in one piece.”

I glance down at her, taking in her seriousness and how adorable she looks. Dressed for battle, she’s fucking hot and fierce. The monster in me wants to grab her by that hair and?—

“They’re ready for us,” Aria murmurs, nodding toward the path where Tarek and Melian have finally taken their positions.

“About fucking time,” I growl, stalking forward with the other five following close behind.

Tarek stands tall. Beside him, Melian’s obsidian robes absorb the light, making her seem like a hole cut from reality itself.

“The initial champions have arrived,” Tarek announces, his voice carrying across the clearing.

Melian steps forward, her features expressionless. “You stand at the threshold of your destiny. The Harvest Ritual begins now.”

Tarek gestures toward the bundle of backpacks on the ground behind them. “Basic supplies. Blanket, firerod, rope.”

“Back in the hall, you said there would be no advantages given,” Rachel points out, her tone challenging.

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