Chapter 12 · When the Moon Takes Him

Darius's teeth sank into my shoulder before I could scream.

The room exploded with gold light.

Not candlelight. Not anything normal. It flashed out from the mark on my wrist and ran up my arm in thin silver lines, burning under my skin. Words formed between them. I couldn't read all of them. I only caught three before Darius jerked away from me like I'd shocked him.

BLOOD. CROWN. RETURN.

Then he hit the floor.

"Darius!"

He landed on one knee, one hand pressed against his mouth. Blood dripped through his fingers. His eyes had gone completely gold, bright enough to throw color across the marble floor.

Around us, the council members started shouting.

Vivienne laughed.

Of course she did.

"There it is," she said. "The bond has taken him."

Darius's head snapped toward her. A low growl rolled out of his chest, deep enough that my ribs shook.

Kyle moved first. He shoved between Darius and the council, one hand on the weapon at his hip. "Everybody back up. Now."

"He's losing control," one of the witnesses said.

"No kidding," I shot back. My shoulder throbbed where Darius had bitten me.