lgrave. It clattered the windows of Whispers & Ink, creaked through the old wooden shelves and doors. The journal's pages turned, the moment she laid her han

eves up. "Teresa, if you're the one guiding me, don't mess this up". Aerin slitted her palm with the pocketknife and made a cut that wasn't deep but enough. Blood oozed out from her palm immediately, it was red and hot. She allowed it drip onto the soil, then poured a circle of salt around herself with her hands shaking. As soon as the circle was complete, the ground beneath her vibrated. The journal flew open on its own and light exploded from it's pages, green and white, glittering like fire. It wrapped around her wrists, her chest, her head and wounded hand. A sharp wave of pain tore through her chest and then everything went black. She screamed, no words coming out just sounds. When she opened her eyes, things became different. She found herself standing in a battlefield. The sky above was blood-red, filled with smoke and falling ash. Bodies of men, women, and wolves filled with agony sorrounded her. Fires shone and screams echoed from somewhere distant. She looked down and gasped for breath . "What is this?" She was putting on robes, not modern clothes, but something grand, embroided with cryptic symbols. Her hand shimmered faintly with green fire. And Kyre stood next to her. He wasn't the tattered man she had met in Velgrave, but a prince instead, his silver eyes glowing, his chest bare and smudged with blood. He stared at her with a mix of grief and awe. "You came back", he said hoarsely. Aerin opened her mouth to speak, but the words that came out wasn't hers. They were Teresa's. "I had to. The spell... I had to finish what I started" "You should have run", he said bitterly. "You should have saved yourself. You aren't safe here". She grabbed his wrist tightly. "No. I came for you... to save you, to make you human again". Suddenly, there was a roar. A shadow loomed overhead and there came a spontaneous wind. And then... A dark figure stepped forward from flames. Tall and veiled, his face obscured. His presence was poisonous, evil with dark magic. Even in her dream and memory. Aerin dreaded him. Fear gripped her. "Maeron", she uttered in fear. "Miss me? It's been a while you know. But I'm pleased to see you my love" His voice echoed evilly. Teresa's memories rushed forward in waves. This was the man who began the war. The one who had turned wolves to monsters. The one who had cursed Kyre and ripped out his humanity. He was once a sorcerer, a protector of the ancient ways. But something had happened to him. He had fallen in love with power. With Teresa. He was consumed with h