Amira stood still, eyes closed, hands pressed to the cold earth.

ards. Now, all she had was herself... and the cur

d in the Grove. Something

nd slow, rose

e returned

s shut. "I seek truth. A

undo what you w

t the oath would d

aughed, low

d for protection. And we gave it

lls. Kael sat beside the flames, his arms crossed and his eyes fixed on the burning logs. Beside

echoed through the forest. Somewhere far behind them, the

finally said, her

sharply. "

... different and wild. He didn't speak. Just watched me

ists. "He shouldn't be alone

id softly. "The curse grows s

Kael threw another piec

shadows behind them. "Fighting t

id out. Nyra's fingers glowed with purple fire. But it was only the old witch, E

teeth. "Still sharp, I see.

Nyra asked, loweri

ages. They are not hiding anymore. They are infecting the people with dreams

oser. "Why are

cause the gods are watching, and the

d. "Then who should

pered. "And what

he way she said it

s betrayed. One that still burns inside her. That power is older than the gods o

u mean... he wants to ta

already twisted the curse. If he ties his soul to yo

throat. "Then we'll kill

s now. "That's the weight of power, boy. Sometimes, to

t a chill thr

hidden behind clouds, and the trees whispered like they were speaking secrets. She felt the pull

ollow

er fingers tingle with magic. Her head throbbed with distant voices. Then she fo

opened lik

d, but then s

s covered the walls with symbols older than the kingdom.

alled from nowher

pool. Her reflection s

ng hair made of stars. Her lips moved,

ou. They stole my name

bled. "Wh

mb that gave life to the land. They feared me, so

. Flames rose a

t I will not burn for him. You mus

he saw cities burning, gods fighting among themselves, a

was back in the forest, kn

d her min

he asked, grabb

es wide. "The goddess insi

royal garden. She no longer smiled. Her eyes were

ly, dressed in dark blue robes

at the bloodrose vines. "The la

Lirien said. "Even you

ooked up. "Do

dded. "I

hey don't feel like dreams any

"And it's not just Varek. The gods are res

ldren," Amira whispered. "They car

" Lirien replied. "They were meant to be

"Then I must prepare fo

members of the Shadow Court. Their faces were covered by masks of bon

said, smiling coldly. "T

er cloak stepped forwar

et it consume her. When she can no longer tel

umming filled the air. Varek turned to t

lood

from the altar, her eyes burn

Varek whispered. "And I will be

eturned to the hidden camp where

scout reported. "People are disappearing. Vanishing

ed at Nyr

the ritual. He's using th

"We move tonight. We find

d. "What if I

Then I'll protect you

ly. "Even if you

w tighten

hildren led their group through the forest. Thunder r

the old templ

s alread

e altar. His eyes glowed with golden light. "T

already lost,

the contrary. I'v

ody glowed with light and f

sted. "You don't

he said and r

mes bur

yes. "Then tell me

dows of the past. She saw herself, kneeling by the black

her... so

yes w

robes. Face hi

at's not

The man stood at her side during the

step back,

never seen him be

ice an

sted your wish. The one

ed. "He was there. He chang

kened. The t

His hatred now flows through your child

knees. Tears runni

. All this time... I belie

whispered

e key. But he

n I need to break him

ice said. **"To the Hollow He

t," she repeated

oice said

ve fell

e ligh

to the war room. His armor half fas

an she's missin

night. No one saw her go. Only a servant hea

nched t

yra said, standing beside

And you didn't

know if it was real. Dreams

"Then we go now. We find

the people are still unsettled. Many believe the Queen is

ear me. I'm not here to please th

and placed a han

said quietly. "I saw Draven...

breath

wouldn't

han we did. The curse i

n we find them both. And

-

ng into the storm clouds rolling above Eld

el it?" Va

he land... it's a

"It's not angr

flicked toward

en poisoned by guilt and royal lies. Your siblings

o hurt anyone,"

ng closer. "You must. Power doesn'

ghtened. "I'm n

are more than a puppet,

e d

ed. "To the Hollow Heart. O

ack. "What do yo

nd pulled out a shard of obsid

son. Placed long ago to bind them. It must be re

n hes

asked, "what happe

. "They will kneel.

-

. The forest

ard through the forest paths. Wolves howled i

said. "I can feel

ted. "And

grew tight. "

orses halted, s

s hand. "Somet

too dark. Even Nyra's mag

sound of sna

rew hi

s. Eyes glowing pale silver. Their cloaks

d. "Get out

d. "Your journey e

r shim

rse

ion, and a wave of violet light burst from he

e second, their

ved dagger, but she raised her palm an

was fast a

stood panting, his sw

the Grove," Nyra s

ows Mothe

forward on foot, the pat

en Grove lo

r of the Grove once more

said. "Take me to

ed slowly, revealing stone

wnward, her breat

showed on the walls with Bones lining the path. And ahead, at

oached i

her, a voic

finally

a tu

Varek's

side him. The boy's face was pale, hi

d softly. "Please..

ed, confusio

ow what's r

on his shoulder. "Th

"You used me. You used my b

s smil

sister," he said. "Now

the obsi

acked. The g

dropped to his knees

Amira

a burst into

t before he even sa

side, chanting fast, t

ld the s

oo late,"

ltar

ared out from t

ing inside

ds were

f cha