MasukThe camp was already being packed up when Autumn left her tent that morning. Men moved with practiced efficiency, rolling up tents, securing supplies, checking weapons. The air smelled like smoke from dying fires and the damp earth of the forest floor.Korran stood near the center of it all, looking over a map spread across a makeshift table. He didn't look up when Autumn approached, but she knew he'd heard her. He always knew when she was near."We're leaving soon," he said, his voice carrying just enough to reach her."I know." Autumn stopped beside him, looking down at the map. She could see the markings, the locations of the remaining stones. Two left. Blackwater Fall Park and Veilwood Park. "I'm ready."Now he looked up, his eyes meeting hers. There was something in his gaze that made her breath catch. "Good. We travel light. Just the four of us.""Four?""You, me, Lysa, and Kael." He straightened, rolling up the map. "The fewer people, the faster we move. And the less attention
The summons came early the next morning.Callie was sitting by the window in her room, watching the sun rise over the park grounds, when there was a soft knock at her door."Come in," she called.A servant entered, a young woman with dark hair pulled back in a neat bun. She curtsied quickly. "Miss Callie, the Luna requests your presence in the throne room."Callie's stomach dropped. "Now?""At your earliest convenience, miss." The servant's expression was neutral, but there was something in her eyes… maybe sympathy, maybe warning. "She said not to rush, but... I wouldn't keep the Luna waiting.""Right." Callie stood, smoothing down the simple dress she'd put on that morning. "Thank you."The servant curtsied again and left.Callie took a breath, trying to calm the nervous flutter in her chest. What could Karter possibly want with her? She'd been trying to keep a low profile since she had regained consciousness, staying out of everyone's way, not drawing attention to herself.Apparentl
The gardens were quiet in the late afternoon, the kind of peaceful that felt almost sacred. Birds sang in the trees, their calls echoing softly through the air. The fountain at the center burbled gently, water cascading over smooth stone. And sitting on a bench near that fountain, looking small and tired and lost in thought, was Callie.Damon's heart clenched at the sight of her.He approached slowly, his footsteps soft on the gravel path. "Callie?"She looked up, and when their eyes met, he saw so many things flash across her face. Surprise. Uncertainty. Pain. And underneath it all, something that might have been hope."Damon," she said quietly."Can I sit?"She hesitated, her fingers twisting together in her lap. Then she nodded. "Yeah. Okay."He sat down beside her, leaving a careful distance between them. Not too close. Not touching. Just... there.For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The only sounds were the fountain and the birds and the rustle of leaves in the breeze."I t
The throne room doors were heavier than Damon remembered. Or maybe it was just the weight of what he was about to do that made them feel that way. He pushed through them anyway, his jaw set, his hands clenched at his sides.The room stretched out before him, massive and imposing as always. The windows that let in streams of golden afternoon light. And there, at the far end, seated on her throne like she'd been born to it, was his mother.She was reading something… a scroll, maybe a report, her posture relaxed but somehow still commanding. She didn't look up when he entered, didn't acknowledge his presence at all. Just kept reading, one hand holding the parchment while the other rested elegantly on the arm of her throne.Damon walked forward, his boots echoing against the marble floor. Each step felt deliberate, purposeful. He didn't stop until he was standing at the base of the dais, looking up at her.Still, she didn't look up."Mother," he said, his voice controlled but firm."Damon
Autumn pushed through the creaky door first, her boots heavy on the old wooden floor. Korran followed close behind."We're good," he said after a moment, turning back to her. Autumn nodded, still catching her breath. Her hands went to her jacket pocket, feeling the weight of the stones she'd been carrying. Two of them. Small, smooth, and humming with ancient power that made her skin tingle every time she touched them.She pulled them out carefully, holding them up to the dim light filtering through the window. They glowed faintly."Here," she said, walking over to where Korran stood. "I got them both.""Two more," he whispered into her hair. "And then no one would ever have a reason to separate us again."Autumn closed her eyes and breathed him in. "Do you think we're doing the right thing?""I think we're doing the only thing we can do." He pulled back just enough to look at her. "Your mother has controlled your life for too long, Autumn. If it's going to help us attain the powers o
Autumn's fingers traced the worn edges of the map for what felt like the hundredth time. The paper was soft now, nearly falling apart from how many times she'd unfolded and refolded it over the past few hours. She held it up to the moonlight, squinting at the markings Korran had drawn, a hasty sketch of trees and landmarks of what looked like a clearing.It had happened so fast back when they rescued Callie. Korran had blocked her path, his face twisted in a convincing display of aggression. To everyone else, it looked like he was trying to stop her from getting to Callie. But his fingers had been gentle, and in that split second, she had felt the slip of paper pressed into her palm."Your fight is with me!" Damon had shouted, but then the deed was done.Nobody had noticed. Nobody had suspected a thing.Autumn had played her part perfectly. She'd rushed to Callie's side, helped rescue her, stayed close to the group as they'd made their escape. Back at camp, she'd been the dutiful pri







