Chapter 16. The Night Hunt

The rules arrived like teeth.

“They invoke Hunt Right,” the Full Mask said, calm enough to frost glass. “Prey runs. Hunter follows. If prey holds till first light, claim is considered and the Moon decides. No outside hand. No steel beyond what you wear. Three boons, no more.”

The First Luna’s smile didn’t touch her mouth. “I prefer old games.”

I should have been afraid. I was—just not of the running.

“Names?” I asked. “Who speaks them?”

“The Weighing names prey,” the Waning said, breath thin, one sleeve torn to bind her shoulder. “You already did. You said you were the Moon’s.”

“I did.”

“Then run for her.”

Kael moved before anyone else could. He didn’t touch me—law sat between us like a drawn blade—but he stepped into the space where a touch would have gone. “There’s a way out through the root caverns,” he said. “The Labyrinth remembers.” He looked at Jarun without turning his head. “Open the Moonways.”

“You’re asking me to loose