The king who wasn’t dead

Clover woke to the sound of rain.

Cold water dripped from the ceiling of the ruined temple and landed against her cheek.

For a moment, she didn’t remember where she was.

Then everything came rushing back.

Her father.

The Shadow King.

The shattered Heart of the First Moon.

She sat up suddenly.

“Father…”

Nothing.

Only silence.

Clover pressed a hand against her chest.

The bond she had shared with Orion was gone.

He was truly gone.

A sob escaped her lips.

Then she heard footsteps.

“Clover!”

Kael.

She turned.

He was running toward her, covered in dust and blood.

The moment he saw her, he dropped to his knees and pulled her into his arms.

“I thought I’d lost you.”

Clover clung to him.

“I lost him.”

Kael didn’t ask who.

He already knew.

“I’m sorry.”

“He saved me.”

Kael held her tighter.

“Then he didn’t die for nothing.”

Clover closed her eyes.

For the first time since entering the temple…

She allowed herself to cry.

⸻

A loud crack suddenly echoed through the chamber.

Kael immediately stood.

His wolf growled.

Clover wiped her tears.

“What was that?”

Another crack.

Then another.

The walls began to tremble.

Damon rushed into the chamber.

“Kael!”

“What happened?”

“You need to see this.”

They followed him toward the main entrance.

The entire mountain was covered in black mist.

The mist moved like something alive.

The Moon Oracle stood at the edge of the temple, staring into the darkness.

Her face was pale.

“Where is Selene?” Kael asked.

The Oracle slowly turned.

“She’s gone.”

“She wasn’t alone.”

Clover’s heart sank.

“Who was with her?”

The Oracle looked toward the mountain.

“The Shadow King.”

Clover froze.

“No.”

“I watched my father disappear.”

“I felt him leave.”

The Oracle shook her head.

“You watched Orion disappear.”

“That is not the same thing.”

Clover stared at her.

“What are you saying?”

The Oracle pointed toward the shattered altar.

“The Heart of the First Moon was never a prison.”

Clover’s blood ran cold.

“It was a mirror.”

Kael frowned.

“A mirror?”

“It separated Orion from the Shadow King.”

“When Clover destroyed it…”

“The two halves became one again.”

Silence.

Clover slowly understood.

“So my father…”

“He isn’t dead.”

The Oracle nodded.

“But neither is the Shadow King.”

⸻

A terrifying roar shook the mountain.

The wolves outside began howling.

Trees snapped in the distance.

Then a voice echoed through the valley.

Deep.

Powerful.

Familiar.

“Clover.”

She recognized it immediately.

Her father’s voice.

But something else was beneath it.

Something darker.

“Come to me.”

Kael stepped in front of her.

“No.”

The voice laughed.

“Alpha…”

“You cannot protect her forever.”

Clover looked toward the darkness.

A figure appeared on the mountain ridge.

Tall.

Black clothing.

Golden eyes.

But one side of his face was covered in dark markings.

Half Orion.

Half Shadow King.

Selene stood beside him.

She bowed.

“My King.”

The figure looked at Clover.

“My daughter.”

Clover’s heart shattered.

“Father…”

He smiled.

“Come home.”

Kael drew his sword.

“You’ll have to get through me first.”

The figure’s smile disappeared.

“Gladly.”

He raised one hand.

The entire mountain erupted in darkness.

And the war began again.