The air in the Great Hall grew thin, charged with the ozone of blood and impending magic. My blood, dark and shimmering with the light of the First Moon, dripped from my clenched fist onto the cold, unforgiving stone of the trial circle. One drop. Two. Three.
Kaelen stared at the spreading stain, then at me, his silver eyes wide with a confusion that was rapidly curdling into fear. He still thought this was about him. He still thought my pain was a performance for his benefit.
Elara, however, understood. I saw a flicker of pure, animal terror in her eyes as she shrank behind Kaelen’s arm. She knew what my bloodline meant. She knew what it could do.
“An innocent mistake?” I repeated, my voice a low whisper that slithered through the stunned silence. I ignored Kaelen completely, my entire
