The earth split rather than merely tremble.
The courtyard grew longer and wider as if the world itself had taken a deep breath, and the stone moaned beneath our feet. The wolves' bright eyes widened as they froze in mid-snarl. Thorn stumbled as well, digging his claws into the stone to help us both stay upright.
It wasn't just the ground, though. The air twisted. The flames of the torches sucked sideways, bending like reeds in water. The walls of the estate wavered and stretched into unfamiliar shapes.
Then I noticed it.
Not outdoors. Not up there. Right here.
The Cradle had entered the courtyard.
This time, its voice wasn't a whisper. Deep and resonant, it rolled like thunder, piercing each marked wolf's throat until the sound was a chorus.
"Not future. Not promise. Memory.
E
