The trunk's lid creaks open, revealing the bond-breaking pact .
My fingers trace the edges of the contract as I murmur, "This pup, like the last, isn't meant for my path."
Silas halts at the threshold. "Why send Moon's perch away? Buying a new-"
"Moon's gone too," I interrupt, my voice as frigid as the winter wind that rattles the windows. "Robert and I head to Favalon. His parents will foster Moon-his mother adores familiars."
His eyes flare with a sudden, wild grief.
Months ago, he'd groveled at my feet, pleading with tear-streaked cheeks to send Moon away for Bella's so-called "allergies."
I'd given him an ultimatum then: "Keep the familiar or keep me."
"Truly?" he whispers.
"Yes."
Then, a blood-curdling scream pierces the silence.
Bella bursts from the guest room, her bare feet slamming against the floorboards.
She careens into Silas, then crashes into me.
"Silas!The black familiar- its's here!"
She thrusts out her arm, two deep, parallel gashes oozing thick, dark blood-this time, no doubt about the authentipack of the wound.
Silas' jaw clenches so tightly I can hear his teeth grinding.
"Clara Ashford, you lied!"
A sharp pain stabs at my chest, but I steel mysel. I know all too well that he'll always choose the pitiful sister over his own mate. "Do you never wonder if Bella clawed herself in a nightmare?"
He seizes Bella's arm, his fingers digging into her skin as he inspects the gashes.
"This is real! You said the familiar cat was gone-you're targeting her on purpose!"
With a flick of my wrist, I yank out my comm-sigil, as I open the pet transport feed.
"Watch the live sigil-Moon's in a transport. His claws can't reach here. Who really wounded Bella?"
Bella freezes, her lip trembling like a leaf in the wind.
"Silas,I must've dreamed. Maybe a stray entered. Forgive me, Clara-"
"Stop."
"You think to leave me blamed without proof?"
I point to the ceiling corner, where a surveillance sigil glows with an otherworldly light.
"Check the feed. See the truth."
Bella's face turns ashen, the color draining from her skin.
Silas gapes at me, his eyes wide with shock.
"You installed this? Do you suspect-"
I let out a cold, mocking laugh.
"This south room was your idea for a pup's room. You added the wallpaper, toys, the sigil."
He whirls on Amy, his fury palpable.
"This was to be a pup's room! Who moved Bella in?"
"Madam ordered the dismantling this morning," Amy whispers, her voice barely audible.
Silas rounds on me, his eyes blazing with anger. "Clara, what game is this?"
I shrug nonchalantly, masking the turmoil inside.
" Question me, or seek the truth.Better check out who hurt your sister Bella" I turn to leave.
"Clara Ashford!" His shout echoes through the hallway as he grabs my arm, his eyes widening in horror at the sight of blood soaking my leggings. "What's happened?!"
I glance down, feeling the searing burn of the herbs coursing through my veins.
"It's my cycle." I duck into the wash-room, desperate to escape his probing gaze.
He stares after me, confusion etched on his face.
Then, realization dawns, and his eyes widen in horror.
"You're bleeding-" In a flash, he sweeps me into his arms, his voice filled with panic.
"To the healer's!"
