6: CELEN

CROW

r quite grasped how venomous ambition could be,

ird row, hunched over scrolls of ancient script, the morning's bruise on her shoulder peeking from beneath her sleeve, reminding me of yester

intuition. Each rune represented an elemental force, the sun, the sea, the wolf, the

," I whispered. "It

ssed together. "Rene

mall smile. "Let'

l, flanked by two Elder-sponsored students. Her posture was regal, shoulders squared, and her platinum hair gle

. "Mind if I join you?" Her voice was h

s, I tightened my grip on my quill. "Professor," Celene calle

d mid-sentence, eyebrows a

e seated herself. Aria's shoulders stiffened, I sl

k, I focused on the scroll, but her presence was a shadow over the page.

hey said the notorious Moonblood would

her voice was quiet but unwavering.

ned. "Rumors are of

ntrate. I watched Aria's pulse thump at her throat, and saw the tension in her knuckles, I longed to

sed, and students filed out. Celene lingered, t

asses," she said softly. "We wouldn't

d, a calm ocean hiding a st

ee you at the council meeting l

f perfumed arrogance, I exhaled a

et under your sk

then opened them with a reso

r shoulders. "Then we'll s

neath the Old Moonstone, were already half-full when Aria and I arrived. Alphas, Betas, and Elders gath

squeezed gently before letting go, as Lady Morwenna called the assembly to order, I scanne

ual scheduling, until Lady Morwenna cleared her throat and said, "We have

lt Aria's pulse s

ordinary events. Advanced displays of power during combat drills, unexplained rune reactions." Sh

slate inscribed with the words "Moonblood

away, she didn't want this battle in public, yet Celene stood

placed under probationary oversight for the next si

rom some Elders and cautious

whispered fie

voice folded in silk. "Power

lined her head. "

. "You're making a mistake." Her voice echoed throug

elest I'd ever seen. "Extraordinary p

oiling in my gut. "

ot me a warning glanc

manded, then, with deliberate neutrality, "The v

d at Celene, eyes blazing, she met my gaze without f

council's weight. Aria pressed her forehead against the cold stone

ol me," she whispered. "Li

to her temple.

ars glinting. "I don't

ry rising in me. "

und mine. "

n we'd practiced, It shimmered briefly. "This is o

fell away, no council votes, no elite intrigues, no Cele

itics, and personal vendettas would collide and I vowed I would protect Aria, not a

alcove, I whispered into the hush,