Page 3 (2/2)

On the beach, white under a white oddesses faced the dark one As they sent their stars flying toward the , to strike them, to curse them

“And so we cursed her,” Celene continued, “cast her into a pit But we did not, could not destroy her It was not for us, this duty, this task, this war”

“We protected the stars,” Luna reminded her “They would fall, as Nerezza had cursed them, but we protected them When they fell, they would fall in secret, and remain hidden”

“Until those who caether, joined in the quest to find thehtened on the hilt of her knife “To fight, each and all, against the dark To risk all to save the worlds”

“Their tireed “They pulled the Fire Star froathered the Water Star from the sea But the final tests of the quest wait As will Nerezza and her army profane”

“Whatever their powers, whatever their gifts, the six face a god” Luna pressed a hand to her heart “And we can only watch”

“It is their fate,” Celene said, “and in their fates live the fate of all the worlds”

“Their time has come” Arianrhod reached out, took her sisters’ hands “And with it, if they are strong and wise, if their hearts remain true, may ours”

“The estured up to the coh the sky “So they fly”

“And courage flies with them,” Arianrhod said

“And there!” Luna pointed across the wide, dark sea where light bloomed, then fired, then quieted “They are safe”

“For now” With a wave of her hand, Celene disins the future”

CHAPTER ONE

A man who couldn’t die had little to fear An i battle, didn’t turn froh a loner by nature, understood the duty, and loyalty, to those who battled with him

Thebrother destroyed by black od’s crazed greed, knew the difference between the dark and the light