Claire’s POV

Damian reached me before the blade did.

He struck me from the side and knocked me out of its path. I hit the floor on one shoulder as the black blade missed my spine and sliced across Damian’s upper arm instead.

Blood immediately darkened the fur covering his partially shifted arm.

Marwen could have attacked again, but his attention shifted towards the shattered altar. He staggered back to it and slammed his marked palm against Kaelen’s crest.

“Obey me!”

Nothing answered.

The dragon remained where it had fallen, its silver-black eye open and its breathing slow. The chains were gone, and whatever authority Marwen had once held over...