BONE MARKERS

"She said your name," Rhett whispered, his voice uneven, eyes locked on Camille's trembling form.

Magnolia didn't answer.

She couldn't.

Her body was still shifting back, the echo of her wolf draining from her bones like lightning fading from storm clouds. The pain was always sharp during a forced transformation, but this one cut deeper, as if something had been stolen mid-shift. Her knees buckled, but she caught herself against the altar, breath heaving.

Camille stirred again, her chained limbs twitching.

"Get those off her," Magnolia said hoarsely.

Rhett didn't hesitate. He unsheathed his dagger and moved to the shackles. As the blade bit into the enchanted metal, the chains hissed, like they were alive. But they broke. One by one.