rmed the sleepy settlement into a hive of preparation. Warriors trained in tight formations. Witches from the nearby coven arrived to

Everyone felt it-that mome

ers wrapped tightly around the hilt of a blade as she

a few feet away, arms crossed over his chest. "And

wept forward again, this time

r," he

rom her eyes. "I never thoug

d quietly, walking toward her. "You're tr

ze. "I'm not a

His voice was low. F

already lost everything once, i

rom her hands and setting it aside. "You hav

ore dangerous than war. But before either coul

rst from t

. "Rogues-north pas

d. "They've moved fas

her blade.

y six Ironclaw warriors. From behind the trees, Beth could

beside her. "The

d. "What do

irring fear. Malrik's not h

how them we'r

ll, wolfish grin.

of coordinated movement, the pack surged forward-howls er

pounding, fire crackling

on. Beth fought beside Austin, her blade singing as it slashed through the chaos. One rogue lunged for her throat-she

y dead. The rest fled, van

er one of the b

d him. "Wh

e nails were blackened. Burned. A faint r

led. "What

aid grimly. "He was

Malr

. "Or one of

rising in her throat. "They're

y," Austin muttered. "Not wi

the horizon. "Thi

d hard. "Then

he council convened again

vered hand of the rogue onto the table. The rune still sm

e of the councilors, pale. "The k

ords and claws. We need allies. Witches. H

. "And if we go to war, we lose mor

eth snapped. "We either fi

le

rtify. But Beth's right-we need allies. I'll send word

nell scoffed. "Th

ed coldly. "Which is more tha

didn't

chair. "Let me go

rned. "Al

r with me," sai

from the shadows-her cloak marked with ru

ked. "Who

is Mira. I'm a Watcher of the Moonp

paths, deep routes between realms known only to the Moonpath-wolves bo

tside her quarters,

about this

he Crescent witches. And you n

close. "The

nto her hand-an obsidian sto

ar," he said. "And I'll fe

fingers around

dropped. "Com

t hesitate

who was already fading into the mists. As Beth followed her into the un

forest- it was like slipping between breaths. One moment she walked beneath Ironclaw's pine-heavy sky,

ed as they walked. "They existed before packs, bef

instincts prickling. "T

said. "Even the sp

grip on her blade.

"And because Malrik's influence has already begun to leak into

. "You said you were

a patch of ground and whispered something in an ancient to

was

racking us. As for your question... because your

y to

g. "Or the beginning. That de

quiet a

s bled silver. The wind carried whispers. But Beth pressed forward, her mind drifting

one and ivy. Beyond it lay a small valley tucked in

Hill," Mir

. Figures in deep violet cloaks ap

heart

an with eyes like polished amethyst and

ed. "And the Embe

y. "Beth Chadwick.

in a smile. "I am High P

hes lived in harmony with the land-growing herbs, raising wolv

ed the walls in glowing blue. Mira left her the

st the usual: powerful, mysterious, dangerous. But these weren't like th

ain. Mira entered,

lowen said. "But first, you mus

gainst Malrik. And h

s something greater-dominion over the

reborn, of an ember not snuffed out by darkness, b

cies? I'm just a wolf

a bridge. Between what was and what must be.

teady. "Then I'll

longer... then nodded. "Th

witches, each robed in violet, seated around a

center, Mira and E

eturn, of the corrupted rogues, the bra

ed without

d her hand. "What

e by dropping stones into a silver bow

ed them as

wh

e bl

"The Crescent Hill wi

e the first time in days. But

the Watcher murmured. "And Malri

o her. "What

ne strong enough to house the shadow completely. If he

pped. "Then we can

at dawn with a Crescent envoy. Rest now, Em

s silver gardens. The stars shimmered above. Wind stirred the petals

tin. Of his eyes.

lieve they'd see

is war might cost them both mor

t run. She would not