로그인The last silver light above the Moon Throne flickered before dawn.
Across the kingdom, wolves lifted their heads toward the palace. The six Guardians felt the disturbance through their territories, a cold pressure that passed through their bonds and left each of them with the same unsettling certainty.The throne was running out of patience.Elena stood on the eastern balcony with Marcus beside her, watching the silver glow fade against the paling sky. She had barelAric did not move when Elena approached him.Around them, the capital was slowly emerging from its terror. Families embraced in the square. Guardians spoke with their people, confirming that the silver network still held. Above the palace, the new barrier shimmered like a web of stars, stretching across the seven territories without a throne at its center.They had done what generations before them had feared to attempt.Yet Elena could not celebrate.The voice from beyond the barrier had called her the daughter of the first Luna. It had spoken of Aric as her brother. And it had accused him of doing something to First Light that Elena still did not understand.She stopped a few steps away from him.“What did you do?”Aric kept his gaze on the sky.“Whatever you heard, you shouldn't trust it.”“That's not an answer.”“No.”“Then give me one.”He finally looked at her. His expre
The voice beyond the barrier did not fade. It lingered in the sky above the Moon Kingdom, pressing against the world like a hand against glass. Every wolf in the capital felt it. Some covered their ears, while others dropped to their knees as the silver threads connecting the territories trembled. Elena stood in the center of the square, holding Marcus's hand. The darkness above the palace had swallowed the moon. For the first time since awakening First Light, she felt something on the other side that did not merely want her power. It knew her. “Elena,” Marcus said softly. She looked at him. “Whatever that thing says, don't answer it just because it knows your name.” “I wasn't planning to.” “Good. I dislike competing with ancie
Chapter 75 —Elena released Marcus's hand only long enough to approach the doorway. Below, the capital had become a sea of silver lanterns and frightened faces. Wolves crowded the palace square. Some wore the colors of their territories; others had come without armor, carrying children or helping the injured walk. At the center of the square, a column of moonlight rose from the ground. Within it stood a vision of Elena. She wore a crown of silver branches and a gown that shimmered like moonlit water. Her face was calm, almost gentle. The vision lifted one hand, and the crowd fell silent. “I AM YOUR QUEEN,” the false Elena declared. “KNEEL, AND I WILL PROTECT YOU.” A murmur passed through the people. Some knelt. Others hesitated. Elena gripped the stone railing. It was not merely copying her appearance. The throne had taken the sound of
Elena had never hated the dawn before.She stood beside the bedroom window, watching pale light spread across the Moon Kingdom, while Marcus fastened the clasp of his sword belt behind her. Neither had slept much after the vision of Seraphine. Every time Elena closed her eyes, she saw her mother kneeling before the Moon Throne, black veins creeping across her face as an unseen force placed a crown above her head.Your queen has been chosen.The words had followed Elena through the night.“What if the vision wasn't a threat?” she asked.Marcus came to stand beside her. “What do you mean?”“What if the throne has already begun the choosing? What if my mother is being used to complete the process?”“Then we'll get to her before it finishes.”She turned toward him. “You say that as if we can simply walk into the throne chamber.”“We could.”“Marcus.”“I'm not saying we should.” His mouth t
The last silver light above the Moon Throne flickered before dawn.Across the kingdom, wolves lifted their heads toward the palace. The six Guardians felt the disturbance through their territories, a cold pressure that passed through their bonds and left each of them with the same unsettling certainty.The throne was running out of patience.Elena stood on the eastern balcony with Marcus beside her, watching the silver glow fade against the paling sky. She had barely slept after the First Path revealed the meaning of the sacrifice. Every time she closed her eyes, she remembered the false image of Marcus lying in a pool of blood.The vision had been an illusion.The fear it awakened had not.Marcus rested his forearms against the stone railing. His injured shoulder remained stiff, and he had been unusually quiet since they returned from the sanctuary.“You're thinking too loudly,” he said.Elena glanced at him. “
The silver pulse traveled through the palace long after the training chamber fell quiet.It rattled the windows, disturbed the flames in the wall sconces, and sent a tremor through the floor beneath Elena's boots. Somewhere above them, a bell rang once. Then another answered from the opposite side of the capital.Marcus moved closer to Elena, his hand settling at the small of her back.“Tell me that was normal.”She glanced at him. “Would you believe me if I did?”“Not for a second.”“Then I won't insult you.”His mouth curved, but the humor disappeared when the pool began to glow again.Aric approached it cautiously. The vision of the Moon Throne had vanished, leaving only clear water and a small silver spark resting at its center.“The throne has noticed that First Light answered you,” he said. “It won't wait until the final night to test your resolve.”“Then we'll prepare before it tries aga







