Page 91 of Marked By His Hunger
“You still haven’t told me your name.”
I hesitated.
Names have power.
Raven belonged to the boy.
Draugr belonged to the Monster.
Which was I?
“Draugr,” I said at last.
Her lips parted.
“That’s a title.”
“Yes.”
“And before that?”
The question cut deeper than she knew.
I held her gaze.
I could not lie to her.
“Raven.”
“Raven, then.”
She repeated it softly.
Testing it.
The sound did something violent to my restraint.
Claim.
The Monster surged.
I turned sharply away before instinct overtook thought.
“Stay close.”
She followed without protest.
As we walked back toward the castle’s looming silhouette, rune-lights flickered to life along parapets and towers.
The architecture of Asgarheim Runevald Institute rose like a gothic cathedral carved from storm and shadow.
Ancient stone.
Flying buttresses.
Spired towers etched with defensive sigils.
Knowledge and danger entwined.
