Dawnlight seeped like iron-tainted wine across Alyssa's silver hairpin. As she stabbed the covenant brand, wolf-head engravings sprouted fangs to clamp the metal—the same pin Evelyn had "thoughtfully" provided at their mother's funeral.
"Morning self-harm ritual?" Evelyn's lace parasol cast half her face in shadow, silver bells tinkling. "Layne says you're allergic to the Embrace. Our family's... defective bride."
Moonflare hatchling erupted in agony, smoke-cloaked as it slammed her own chest. Her hair lashed like serpents, driving the pin deeper. Blood flowed backward through silver threads, painting fragmented sacrificial circles on her hem—Layne's lab coordinates glowing at the epicenter.
"Conserve strength." Evelyn's embalming-scented glove lifted her chin with the parasol tip. "Know why your Moonflare misfires?" She ripped her sleeve, revealing grey wolf brands. "Father gave me double Shadowclaw essence, while you..."
Mechanical explosions rocked the cellar. Layne shattered through the window, mercury veins pulsing under dawnlight. His clockwork hand crushed Evelyn's parasol, but the shards reformed into needles piercing Alyssa's spine.
"Touching sisterhood." His kaleidoscope pupils reflected Alyssa's myriad deaths. "But my bride needs... catalysts."
Moonflare phoenix devoured the needles. In the conflagration, Alyssa saw Evelyn's spectral backdrop—Kane's mother stabbing her own temple as Layne smiled through blood. The hairpin melted, liquid silver forging brand-manacles pinning her between light and shadow.
"Enjoy the awakening." Evelyn tossed their mother's ruby necklace—housing their father's preserved eye. "He said your struggles resemble..."
Layne's heart-gears jammed. Alyssa's flame hawk shattered the pendant. Gem shards formed new prophecy: When the defect bleeds dry, true Shadow Queen shall rise. Her hair greyed, wind-revealed wolf-shaped birthmark mirroring Evelyn's brand.
Puppy whimpers and snapping chains echoed below. Alyssa tore her hair out—strands coiling into vipers. Evelyn's scream distorted as her brand oozed blue copper powder, skin sloughing like melted wax.
"Expiration date arrived." Layne wiped black blood turning silver in dawnlight. "Now you see who's truly..."
Distant bell towers tolled blood moon dirges. Alyssa's last conscious sensation—her brand wound crusting over with cold metallic scales.