Book Five: Chapter 20

And if they did, the Clan would see fit to set things right. Abella’s stomach knotted at the thought. She dreaded the day she would be commanded to kill a human, but she would do it without hesitation if it meant protecting her family from destruction. Her claws flexed on the stone ledge, tail twitching nervously, and her wings bristled with tension. She had long since accepted that duty, and yet the weight of it pressed heavier with each passing century.

Below, the shadowed figure jumped off a nearby roof and landed in the street with a soft thump. The lanterns hanging from wrought-iron posts flickered, illuminating the creature for a brief moment. Its body was unnatural—its legs and abdomen clearly arachnid, moving with a fluidity that was both mesmerizing and horrifying. Abella’s eyes widened as she instinctively adjusted her balance in midair, her wings fanning to stabilize her position. Pierre swore under his breath, h