The Ones Who Remembered

The sanctuary doors cracked again.

BOOM.

Aurora flinched as another tremor traveled through the floor beneath her feet.

Lucien stepped in front of her, his body shielding hers completely.

Kael’s claws extended.

“Stay behind us,” he ordered.

Aurora stared at the ancient doors.

“They’re not here for the sanctuary.”

Lucien glanced at her.

“How do you know?”

She touched the glowing crescent on her palm.

“Because I can hear them.”

A whisper drifted through her mind.

Then another.

Hundreds of voices.

Whispers layered over whispers.

Moon Champion…

She has awakened…

Kill her before she remembers…

Aurora’s breathing became shallow.

“They’re afraid of me.”

Kael’s eyes narrowed.

“Good.”

Lucien looked at him coldly.

“This isn’t the time for arrogance.”

“I’m not being arrogant.”

Kael stepped closer to the doors.

“I’m reminding them that she’s not alone.”

Aurora looked between them.

For years, she had believed she was ordinary.

Human.

Powerless.

Someone who had simply been caught between two dangerous kings.

But now she understood.

She hadn’t been caught between them.

She had been the reason their paths had crossed.

The reason the sanctuary had opened.

The reason the ancient blade had awakened.

And perhaps…

The reason the war had begun.

The doors exploded.

Stone flew across the chamber.

Kael shifted instantly, his enormous black wolf form appearing between Aurora and the entrance.

Lucien disappeared into the darkness.

Aurora heard screams outside.

Then silence.

A figure slowly walked through the broken doorway.

He wore a long black cloak.

His face was hidden beneath a silver mask.

Behind him stood at least twenty warriors.

Their armor carried a symbol Aurora had never seen before.

A crescent moon pierced by a black sword.

The masked man looked directly at her.

Then he bowed.

“Finally.”

Aurora’s heart stopped.

“Who are you?”

The man lifted his head.

“The last witness.”

Lucien appeared behind him.

His fangs were exposed.

“You have five seconds to explain yourself.”

The masked man smiled.

“Still protecting her, Lucien Draven?”

Lucien froze.

Aurora noticed it immediately.

“You know him?”

Lucien didn’t answer.

Kael returned to human form, his chest rising heavily.

“Lucien.”

The vampire king’s eyes remained fixed on the stranger.

“I know his voice.”

The masked man laughed softly.

“You should.”

He slowly removed his mask.

Aurora stared at the face beneath it.

He looked neither vampire nor werewolf.

His skin was unnaturally pale.

His eyes were completely silver.

And beneath his left eye was the same crescent-shaped mark glowing on Aurora’s palm.

Aurora stepped backward.

“No.”

The man smiled.

“You finally remember me.”

“I’ve never seen you before.”

“Not in this life.”

The words sent a chill through her.

Lucien moved toward him.

“What do you want?”

The man’s smile disappeared.

“To finish what we started six hundred years ago.”

Kael’s expression hardened.

“What happened six hundred years ago?”

The stranger looked at Aurora.

“She died.”

Aurora’s heart pounded.

“Who?”

“The first Moon Champion.”

He pointed directly at her.

“You.”

Silence.

Aurora couldn’t breathe.

The memories came suddenly.

A castle burning.

Blood covering snow.

A silver sword in her hand.

Two men standing beside her.

One with crimson eyes.

One with golden eyes.

And a promise.

We will find you again.

Aurora screamed.

The sanctuary shook.

Lucien grabbed her before she collapsed.

Kael stared at them in horror.

The stranger smiled.

“Now you remember.”

Aurora opened her eyes.

Silver light filled them.

And this time…

She wasn’t afraid.

She looked at Lucien.

Then at Kael.

And finally at the stranger.

“I remember everything.”

The masked man’s smile vanished.

Aurora slowly raised her glowing hand.

“And I remembered who killed me”