The Isle of Myrren was unnaturally quiet that morning. A thick blanket of fog hung low, barely drifting. Even the waves against the jagged cliffs whispered instead of crashing. Deep in the stone dungeon of the ancient fort, Serena lay still on the cold ground, her body curled up beneath the thin blanket they’d allowed her. Her eyes were closed, but she wasn’t asleep. She hadn’t truly slept in days—not since she began attempting to communicate through the mind-link and learning to detach her soul from her body.And now… something had changed. Her heart beat louder. Stronger. Her wolf, Nene, stirred restlessly in the corners of her mind.He’s near, her wolf whispered.Serena blinked. She sat up slowly, ignoring the sharp tug of the chain still wrapped around her ankle. Her fingers grazed the cold stone wall beside her, grounding herself. Her breath came faster. Alexandro.She could feel him. Not just a vague hope or a distant memory—he was out there, on the water, close enough that her
The eastern shores were nothing like the lands Alexandro was used to. The skies here always looked darker, the waters restless, as though the ocean itself was hiding secrets beneath its violent waves. The jagged cliffs and thick fog that rolled over the waters gave no welcome. The region had long been uncharted, unclaimed by any kingdom, spoken of only in whispers and half-truths. Pirates, exiled mages, and sea-born monsters were said to roam these parts freely. For Alexandro, it was both unfamiliar and unwelcoming—but it was here that he would find Serena.They had docked at a small port days earlier, and since then, Alexandro and his allies had been trying to find their next course of action. Valerian stood beside him, his hands clasped behind his back, eyes narrowed at the storm-clouded horizon. The two men had not spoken much since Serena’s message reached Alexandro’s mind, but they shared a silent understanding now. Whatever tension or rivalry that had once defined their relation
The dungeon was silent, cloaked in a kind of darkness that didn’t just swallow light but seemed to mute sound, time, and emotion itself. Serena sat on the cold stone floor, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. For days, she had tried to resist, to hold on to what was left of her strength, but now it felt like something deep within her had shifted.The events of the previous night clung to her like morning fog—her soul had drifted from her body, exploring a world that felt untouchable yet vividly real. She remembered the sensation of soaring through space, through unseen paths, pulled by instinct and the faint memory of Alexandro’s touch. She remembered reaching the chamber where Maeron and Solmyra slept and the piercing realization that they were more than captors—they were bound by something intimate and dark. But this morning brought a different weight. Solmyra’s sudden presence beside her, her cryptic words, and that strange spell she whispered as she gripped Serena’s wrist—i
The sea stretched wide beneath a sky heavy with gray clouds, the wind steady and cool as the ship cut across the water like a silent arrow. The rhythmic creaking of the wooden vessel and the fluttering of sails filled the air as the crew moved in practiced coordination. A strange stillness hung over the deck, the kind that came before something significant. Everyone on board could feel it.They were close now.Alexandro stood near the bow, his sharp gaze fixed on the blurred silhouette of land rising in the distance. The dark coast grew clearer with each passing hour, and though he had spent many nights dreaming of this moment, now that they were so near, he felt the weight of uncertainty press harder on his chest.Beside him, Kiara watched in silence, arms crossed, eyes narrowed. She had been unusually quiet since they left the port. They were both thinking about Serena—what condition she might be in, who might be holding her, and whether she still held onto hope.The sound of approa
Serena jolted back into her body, the feeling as sudden and jarring as falling through a dream. Her breath caught in her throat, and she gasped for air, blinking rapidly to shake off the blur that clung to her vision. The coldness of the dungeon seeped into her skin once more, reminding her that she was still a prisoner, still trapped in the depths of Maeron’s eerie fortress. She sat up, her heart racing, only to freeze at the sight before her.Solmyra was sitting beside her, calm as a winter night, her dark eyes studying Serena with quiet interest. The witch’s presence sent a chill down Serena’s spine. Her body felt cold, heavy—like she had returned with half her soul still floating in the ether.“I see you’ve started using your power,” Solmyra said, her voice smooth like the tide but with an edge that made Serena’s skin crawl.“No,” Serena lied quickly, clutching her arms to her chest. Her voice trembled despite the effort to sound composed.Solmyra’s thin lips curved into a small,
The creaking sound of the ship settling into the small port echoed against the wooden docks, blending with the quiet lapping of waves and the cries of distant seabirds. After days of relentless travel across unpredictable waters, the crew of Alexandro’s ship had finally reached a resting point. The sky was darkening with streaks of amber and violet as the sun dipped into the ocean’s horizon. The wind was calm, the sea gentler than it had been in days, and for the first time since the beginning of their voyage, they could breathe without urgency.The port itself was modest—an unclaimed stretch of quiet land not listed on most maps, used by traveling merchants and outcasts who wanted to avoid the gaze of kingdoms. It was the perfect place to replenish supplies and rest without attracting attention. They still had two more days of travel to reach the location Valerian had indicated—two more days before stepping into the unknown.The crew moved swiftly, securing the ship and organizing th