The Battle of Ravenfall

Ravenfall erupted into chaos.

The castle gates exploded inward as wolves charged through the courtyard.

Vampires poured from the towers, their crimson eyes glowing beneath the blood-red moon.

And behind them came the Royal Hunters, armed with silver blades and enchanted arrows.

Aurora stood at the center of it all.

For one terrifying moment, she couldn’t move.

There were too many.

Too much noise.

Too much blood.

Then Kael grabbed her hand.

“Stay with me.”

Lucien appeared on her other side.

“And stay between us.”

Aurora looked at them.

“I’m not hiding.”

Kael gave her a small smile.

“I know.”

Lucien drew his sword.

“Then fight beside us.”

A howl shook the battlefield.

Kael transformed.

His enormous black wolf form charged into the crowd, knocking hunters aside as he tore through the battlefield.

Lucien moved like a shadow.

One moment he stood beside Aurora.

The next, he was surrounded by enemies.

Silver weapons struck at him, but he moved too quickly for them to land.

Aurora raised the Blade of Selene.

The sword responded.

Silver flames wrapped around her body.

A group of hunters spotted her.

“That’s her!”

“Take the girl!”

They charged.

Aurora’s heart raced.

She raised the sword.

The first hunter swung.

She blocked.

The impact nearly knocked her backward.

Another attacked from behind.

Before he could reach her, a black blur crashed into him.

Kael.

He shifted back just long enough to look at Aurora.

“You’re getting better.”

Aurora smiled despite herself.

“I’m trying.”

A silver arrow suddenly flew toward Kael.

Aurora saw it before he did.

“Kael!”

She swung the sword.

A wall of silver energy appeared between them.

The arrow shattered.

Kael stared at her.

“You saved me.”

Aurora breathed heavily.

“You’re welcome.”

Across the battlefield, Lucien watched them.

Something flickered in his eyes.

Jealousy.

But before he could say anything, a powerful blast knocked him to his knees.

Morgana had entered the battlefield.

She descended slowly from the sky, black wings spreading behind her.

Every creature fell silent.

Even the wolves stopped fighting.

Morgana looked at Aurora.

“Come to me.”

Aurora shook her head.

“No.”

Morgana’s eyes narrowed.

“You still don’t understand what you’re capable of.”

Aurora raised the sword.

“Then I’ll learn.”

Morgana smiled.

“Very well.”

She lifted her hand.

The sky turned black.

Lightning struck the castle towers.

Aurora felt the Moonstone burning against her chest.

Suddenly, voices filled her mind.

Lucien.

Kael.

Adrian.

Three separate heartbeats.

Three bonds.

Three powers.

Aurora closed her eyes.

The Blade of Selene began to glow brighter.

She understood.

She didn’t need to choose one.

She needed to unite them.

“Lucien!”

He looked toward her.

“Take your vampires to the eastern gate.”

Lucien nodded immediately.

“Kael!”

The Alpha turned.

“Take the wolves to the western gate.”

Kael smiled.

“Already understood.”

Aurora looked toward Adrian.

He stood on the castle steps, watching everything unfold.

“Adrian!”

His eyes met hers.

“What?”

“I need you.”

His expression changed.

“You trust me?”

Aurora hesitated.

“No.”

She raised the sword.

“But I’m willing to give you a chance.”

Adrian smiled.

“That’s all I needed.”

He turned toward the vampires.

“Protect the girl.”

Thousands of voices answered with a single roar.

Aurora stepped forward.

Silver light erupted from her body.

The battlefield trembled.

Every vampire and wolf felt it.

Every hunter stopped.

Even Morgana stepped backward.

Aurora’s eyes glowed silver.

“Enough.”

Her voice carried across the entire kingdom.

“This war ends tonight.”

Morgana laughed.

“You can’t stop me.”

Aurora lifted the Blade of Selene.

“I’m not alone.”

Lucien appeared on her right.

Kael stood on her left.

Adrian stood behind her.

Four figures beneath the blood-red moon.

For the first time in six hundred years…

Vampires and wolves stood together.

Morgana’s smile disappeared.

“No…”

Aurora looked directly at her.

“Now it’s your turn to be afraid.”