Chapter 20: Ronan's POV

Ronan's POV

The Horn sounded at dusk.

It was not loud.

It was one low note, as deep as a bell at the bottom of the sea, and it went through my bones.

I was on my knees on the balcony before I knew I had fallen.

My hands were flat on the stone.

My whole body was leaning toward the cliff, and my jaw ached from the pull.

Come, said the note, in the voice of my father.

Out on the northern ridge, a hundred wolves began to howl.

Then the howl cut off all at once.

That was worse than the Horn.

"Ronan."

Isobel was on her knees in front of me, her hands on my face.

"Look at me.

"Stay here."

"I'm trying," I said through my teeth.

My sister's voice was in my head, thin and desperate through the bond.

Brother, I can't stop my legs.

The note came again, and my hands slid an inch toward the cliff.

Isobel put her arms around me, and her power came up around us.

The Horn did not break against it.

It slid underneath.

"It isn't working," I said. "It isn't your power it's fighting.

"It's my blood."

"Then we fight it together."

"There is a way," I said. "I didn't want to tell you like this."

She took my arm and hauled me up, and we ran for the Wolf Tower.

She bolted the door behind us and put her back against it.

"Tell me."

I made myself stand.

I made myself look at her.

"The mark," I said. "I told you it was yours to throw back.

"I didn't tell you what it was."

Her grey eyes did not move from my face.

"A fang-bone wound makes a mate-mark.

"On my side it's done.

Keep reading free with an account. Start My Blood Awakened, His Reign Ended from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.