INICIAR SESIÓNAYLIN'S POV Three days of training had left bruises on top of bruises, but for the first time, I felt something shifting."Again," Iliana said.I focused on the wooden target across the yard, reaching for that same thread of concentration that had sent the equipment flying days earlier. This time, instead of chaos, a single practice sword lifted cleanly off its rack and hovered steadily in the air."Better," Iliana said. "Control matters more than power. Anyone can be strong. Strength without control simply becomes another threat to the people around you."I lowered the sword gently back to the ground, sweat sticking my shirt to my back, exhaustion pulling at every limb. It was a different kind of tiredness than before, though. Less like collapsing, more like something being built.Lucien watched from the edge of the yard, arms crossed, a small, proud smile tugging at his mouth that he probably didn't realize was showing."That's enough for today," he said, once Iliana gave a nod of
LUCIEN'S POVHer breathing slowed gradually beneath my hand, the panic draining out of her by degrees until her eyes finally drifted shut again.I stayed exactly where I was, watching the rise and fall of her chest, cataloguing every small twitch of her fingers against the sheets like it might warn me of another nightmare before it fully took hold. When her breathing settled into something even and deep, I allowed myself to exhale.He threatened her. Tairn's voice simmered low, a growl that hadn't fully faded since she'd spoken those words.I know.And he threatened this kingdom.I know that too.I brushed a strand of hair away from her face, memorizing the shape of her features in the dim candlelight, the same way I had every night since nearly losing her. Whatever waited beyond these walls, whoever this creature was who'd found his way into her dreams, he'd made one mistake already. He'd shown himself, however briefly, however deliberately.That gave me something to work with.I pre
AYLIN'S POV "Try reaching for your other powers the way you reached for the healing," Iliana said, for what felt like the twentieth time."I'm trying.""Maybe picture something ," Kaelen offered, entirely too cheerful for someone standing safely off to the side. "Like you enjoy. Concentration helps.""I'm concentrating, Kaelen.""Have you tried breathing through it?" Seraphine added. "Sometimes when I need to shift, I focus on my breath.....""I'm breathing." My jaw tightened. "I'm breathing, I'm concentrating, I'm picturing things, I'm doing every single thing all of you keep suggesting, and none of it is working."Hours had passed since the healing had worked, hours of standing in the same spot trying to summon anything else, and my body ached with a kind of exhaustion that had nothing to do with physical exertion. Every attempt fizzled out into nothing. Every suggestion from the small crowd gathered around me only tightened the knot forming behind my ribs."Maybe try channeling yo
AYLIN'S POV Lucien's hand stayed wrapped around mine as we walked down toward the training grounds, morning light cutting long shadows across the courtyard. The moment we stepped into view, every head turned toward us at once.I felt my face heat, certain it was the hand-holding drawing the attention."Why is everyone staring?" I murmured, mostly to myself.Lucien only smirked before crossing the yard, leaving me standing there with the full weight of dozens of eyes still fixed on me.The staring didn't stop even after Lucien left to meet Terak near the sparring ring. Guards. Servants. Werewolves I'd never even met before, all of them watching me with an expression I couldn't quite name.Seraphine reached me first, pulling me into a hug so tight it nearly knocked the breath out of me. "I'm so happy for you.""Uh. Why?"She pulled back, grinning. "I can smell Lucien all over you."My stomach dropped. "Seraphine!""What? I'm just stating facts." She tilted her head, entirely too please
AYLIN'S POV Neither of us spoke for a long moment.Lucien stared deep into my eyes, like he still didn't quite trust that I wouldn't vanish the second he looked away. When he reached me, he took my face in both hands, thumbs brushing gently along my cheekbones."I thought I'd lost you," he said quietly. "More than once tonight. More than once this entire month.""I'm here.""I know." His voice caught. "I keep having to remind myself of that."I covered his hands with mine, holding them against my face, feeling the slight tremor still running through him even now."You went through it with me," I said. "Whatever happened in that room. I felt you there. Not just beside me. Inside it, somehow.""I felt everything you felt." His forehead dropped to rest against mine. "Every fear you've carried since the night I found you. I understand things now I never could have asked you to explain.""I'm sorry you had to feel all of that.""Don't be." His hands slid down to rest at my waist. "I'd rat
AYLIN'S POV "What could you possibly mean?" Lucien's brow furrowed, his hand still wrapped around mine."The vampires." I made myself say it plainly, even though the words felt heavier out loud than they had inside my own head. "They're coming. They want blood, violence, something I don't fully understand yet. But it's them behind everything. The harvesting, the attacks. All of it.""How do you know all this?" Terak asked, his arms crossed, skepticism written plainly across his face."I was in a coma." I met his gaze. "I had a conversation with the Moon Goddess herself.""No shit." Kaelen's eyes went wide. "You actually spoke to her? The real Moon Goddess?""Yes."Seraphine's elbow found his ribs before he could say anything else."Ow. What?""She's the Moon Goddess Incarnate," Seraphine said, exasperated. "Of course she spoke with her. Literally her namesake."Kaelen rubbed his side, muttering something under his breath I chose not to catch.Seraphine's expression shifted, curiosity







