Chapter 25

Shadows in the Stone

The mountain path twisted like a serpent, its jagged stones biting into Aria’s boots as she ran, Rollan clutched tightly against her chest. The air was thin and sharp, each breath a struggle as they climbed higher into the peaks. Behind them, the loyalists’ horns blared, closer now, their pursuit relentless. Arrows whistled through the air, thudding into the earth or clattering against rock, each one a reminder of how narrowly they’d escaped the ambush. Caden led the way, his sword still drawn, his eyes scanning the cliffs for any sign of shelter or advantage. Despite his wolfless state, he moved with the precision of a seasoned warrior, his presence a steady anchor amidst the chaos.

“Keep moving!” he barked, his voice cutting through the wind. “There’s a cave ahead—we’ll make our stand there.”

Aria’s legs burned with exhaustion, but she pushed forward, her gaze flicking to the warriors behind her. Torren and the others were wounded, their faces pale but resolute. They had fought bravely in the glade, but the loyalists outnumbered them, and Lena’s betrayal had struck a deep blow. We can’t keep running forever, Aria thought, her heart pounding. We need a plan.

The cave Caden had spotted loomed ahead, its mouth a dark gash in the mountainside. They scrambled inside, the cool, damp air enveloping them like a shroud. The warriors quickly set up a defensive line at the entrance, their swords and bows at the ready. Aria sank to the ground, cradling Rollan, her breath coming in ragged gasps. He whimpered softly, his tiny hands clutching her tunic, and she pressed a kiss to his forehead, murmuring reassurances she barely believed herself.

Caden knelt beside her, his face streaked with sweat and dirt. “We’ll hold them here,” he said, his voice steady but strained. “The cave narrows—they can’t overwhelm us.”

Aria nodded, though doubt gnawed at her. But for how long? She glanced at the warriors, their numbers too few, their strength waning. “We need to find another way out,” she said quietly. “Or we’re trapped.”

Caden’s jaw tightened, but before he could respond, a low rumble echoed through the cave, reverberating off the stone walls. The ground trembled beneath them, and dust rained from the ceiling. Aria’s heart lurched. An earthquake? Now?

But the tremor wasn’t natural. The walls shimmered, and suddenly, the stone itself seemed to shift, revealing a hidden passage that hadn’t been there moments before. A faint, golden light spilled from the opening, pulsing in time with Rollan’s mark. Aria’s breath caught. “Caden, look.”

He turned, his eyes widening as he took in the new path. “The seer’s magic,” he muttered. “It must be.”

Torren stepped forward, his sword still raised. “Could be a trap, Alpha.”

“Or a way out,” Caden countered. “We don’t have many options.”

Aria stood, holding Rollan close. “The light—it’s the same as his mark. I think it’s guiding us.”

Caden hesitated, then nodded. “We’ll take the chance. Torren, lead the men through. Aria and I will follow.”

The warriors filed into the passage, their boots echoing in the narrow tunnel. Aria and Caden brought up the rear, the golden light bathing them in an eerie glow. As they moved deeper, the air grew warmer, and the walls smoothed into polished stone, etched with runes that seemed to hum with ancient power. Aria’s skin prickled with unease, but she pressed on, trusting the path the seer had opened.

The tunnel opened into a vast cavern, its ceiling lost in shadow. In the center stood a stone pedestal, upon which rested a single, glowing orb. The light pulsed rhythmically, casting shifting patterns across the walls. Aria’s heart raced as she approached, Rollan stirring in her arms. His mark glowed brighter, resonating with the orb’s energy.

“What is this place?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Caden stepped beside her, his hand resting on the pedestal. “A nexus of power, maybe. Tied to the prophecy.”

Before she could respond, the orb flared, and a voice filled the cavern—deep, resonant, and achingly familiar. “The child of the mark approaches. The path of unity or ruin lies before him.”

Aria’s blood ran cold. It was Victor’s voice, but distorted, as if spoken through a veil of time and space. She glanced at Caden, whose face had hardened into a mask of fury. “How is this possible?” he growled.

The orb pulsed again. “The loyalists’ ritual was but a shadow. My essence lingers, bound to the prophecy. The child’s blood can free me—or seal my fate.”

Aria’s grip on Rollan tightened, her heart pounding. “You’re dead,” she spat. “We killed you.”

Victor’s laugh echoed through the cavern, cold and mocking. “Death is not the end, cursed one. Not when the prophecy’s power flows through your veins.”

Caden’s hand clenched into a fist. “What do you want?”

“Freedom,” the voice replied. “Or oblivion. The choice is yours—but know this: the loyalists will not stop until they claim the child. They are already closing in.”

As if on cue, a distant shout echoed from the tunnel behind them. The loyalists had found the passage. Aria’s stomach churned with dread. We’re cornered.

Caden turned to her, his eyes blazing with resolve. “We can’t let them take Rollan. We need to destroy whatever’s anchoring Victor here.”

Aria nodded, though fear clawed at her throat. “But how? The orb?”

“Perhaps,” he said, his gaze flicking to the pedestal. “Or maybe it’s tied to Rollan’s mark.”

The orb pulsed again, Victor’s voice dripping with malice. “You cannot destroy me without destroying the child. His fate is bound to mine.”

Aria’s breath hitched, her mind racing. No. There has to be another way. She looked down at Rollan, his innocent eyes meeting hers, and a surge of determination flooded her. “I won’t let you take him,” she whispered, more to herself than to Victor.

Caden’s hand found hers, his touch grounding. “We’ll find a way. Together.”

The shouts grew louder, the loyalists’ footsteps pounding closer. Torren and the warriors formed a defensive line at the cavern’s entrance, their faces grim. Aria’s heart hammered as she scanned the chamber for any sign of escape or advantage.

Then, the runes on the walls flared to life, casting a golden light that bathed the cavern. A new voice filled the air—ancient, feminine, and commanding. “The prophecy’s guardian awakens. Choose wisely, bearers of the mark.”

The pedestal trembled, and the orb shattered, its light scattering into a thousand glittering shards. In its place stood a spectral figure—a woman with eyes like molten gold, her form translucent yet powerful. Aria’s breath caught. The seer.

The spectral seer raised her hand, and the cavern shook, the entrance collapsing in a cascade of stone, sealing the loyalists out. “You have little time,” she intoned, her voice echoing. “The prophecy’s crux lies ahead. But first, you must face the truth of your bond.”

Aria and Caden exchanged a glance, uncertainty flickering between them. The seer’s gaze pierced them, unyielding. “Only through unity can you break the curse and save the child. Fail, and all will be lost.”

The ground trembled again, and a hidden door yawned open at the cavern’s far end, revealing a path shrouded in darkness. The seer’s form began to fade, her final words lingering in the air. “Go now. The loyalists will not be deterred for long.”

Aria took a steadying breath, clutching Rollan as she met Caden’s gaze. “We can do this,” she said, her voice firm despite the fear gnawing at her.

He nodded, his hand squeezing hers. “Together.”

They stepped into the darkness, the weight of the prophecy and Victor’s lingering threat pressing down on them. The path ahead was uncertain, but their resolve was clear. They would protect their son, break the curse, and face whatever truths awaited them—together.