The first crack in the seals came on a quiet autumn night, and I woke up gasping for air.
My birthmark felt like ice against my shoulder, burning cold in a way that made my whole body shiver. I pressed my hand against it, but the cold went deeper than skin, deeper than bone.
Ezra sat up fast beside me in our bed. His eyes were wide and alert, already searching the darkness of our room for threats.
"You felt it too?" he whispered.
I nodded, unable to find words yet. My throat felt tight with fear.
We ran outside together, not even bothering to put on shoes. The pack square was empty when we got there, just us standing alone in the moonlight. The moon was bright and full above us, beautiful and terrible at the same time. But the air felt heavy around us, pressing down on my chest. Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong.
Then it hit like a physical blow.
