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My heart stops.
Arlene's casket rises slowly from the grave. “Oh my Goddess.”
It keeps rising until it clears the earth completely. Wind explodes through the cemetery. Trees bend beneath its force. Leaves tear from branches and spiral around us through the brilliant white light. My hair whips across my face as I hold Diana securely against my chest.
The casket hangs beneath us. The lid moves. Slowly. An inch. Then another.
My breath catches as the wind pushes it farther open. “Arlene.”
She lies inside. Motionless. Black hair frames her face. Her hands rest over her body exactly as they were placed before we buried her.
Diana reaches toward her. White light gathers around her tiny fingers. My Lycan presses closer. Pup knows.
"Knows what?"
Don't know.
Diana reaches farther. Power explodes through me. I gasp as white light races down my arms and surrounds her. Her power joins mine, twisting together until I can no longer tell which belongs to me and which belongs to her.
My Lycan stares through my eyes. Magic.
The word whispers through me.
Diana opens her tiny hand. The cemetery disappears beneath brilliant white light. Our combined power stretches downward. Toward the open casket. Toward Arlene.
My best friend. My sister. The woman who stepped between my daughter and death.
I hold Diana tighter as the light reaches for her.
White light touches Arlene's body.
53
Arlene’s POV
Darian disappears in silver light. I keep staring at the place where he stood, my lips still tingling from his kiss.
“Live,” I whisper.
The glowing branches above me sway.
“He heard you.”
I turn. The Moon Goddess stands beneath the tree.
I wipe my cheeks. “He's stubborn.”
“I know.”
A broken laugh slips out of me. “Then you know hearing me doesn't mean he'll listen.”
“He has your pups.”
Damian. Darlene. Arian. My chest aches.
“He'll live for them.”
“And eventually?”
