เข้าสู่ระบบGianna approached the ancient throne carefully, her fae senses guiding her with increasing certainty toward the carved stone seat, its surface weathered by centuries of neglect but still bearing traces of the intricate craftsmanship that had once marked it as the heart of the kingdom's power. She studied the elaborate carvings covering its surface, patterns and symbols that seemed, upon closer examination, to carry a quality similar to what she'd learned to recognize throughout their search for the mirror fragments."These symbols," Corwin said, moving to examine the throne alongside her, his own trained eye tracing the carvings with growing interest. "They're not purely decorative. There's old magic woven into this design.""Can you sense exactly where within the throne the fragment might be hidden?" Nolan asked, standing protectively nearby as Gianna continued her careful examination, Luna still cradled against her chest despite the infant's continued restlessness.Gianna closed her
Elmund's search party returned three days later, exhaustion and tension visible in every member's bearing as they rode through the gates in the fading evening light. Gianna hurried toward the courtyard the moment word reached her, her heart pounding with uncertain hope as she searched among the riders for any sign of the missing soldiers.Her relief at finding most of them alive, several bearing fresh wounds but breathing, was tempered immediately by the grim expression Elmund wore as he dismounted and approached where Nolan waited near the palace steps."We found them," Elmund reported. "Barely. They'd been holding a defensive position within a collapsed section of the burial grounds, fighting off waves of shadow creatures and cloaked figures for nearly three full days before we arrived.""The fragment," Nolan said immediately, the question carrying barely restrained urgency. "Did they manage to keep it?"Elmund's expression carried mixed news. "They did," he said, relief evident des
They rode hard for the settlement the moment the chamber had been thoroughly searched for any additional clues Margaret might have left behind, the recovered fragment secured carefully within Gianna's pack alongside the one brought back from the mountain ruins. Exhaustion weighed heavily on both of them, but the urgency of Margaret's unexpected betrayal and newfound portal magic left little room for proper rest during their return journey."If she's already found two fragments," Gianna said, voicing the fear that had been circling her thoughts throughout the long ride, "and the Hollow Court commands enough power to grant her that kind of enhanced ability, how much further ahead of us might they already be?""We don't know," Nolan admitted grimly. "But we need to move faster now, gathering whatever remains before they can claim it first."They arrived back at the palace two days later, finding the settlement in a state of cautious, hopeful activity as word spread that their expedition
The journey toward the eastern shoreline took two full days, Gianna and Nolan riding together at the head of a modest guard, the terrain gradually shifting from the familiar forests surrounding their own settlement into something flatter, saltier, the distant cry of gulls carrying on the wind long before the sea itself finally came into view."The elder said the ruin lies near a formation she called the Weeping Cliffs," Gianna said, consulting the careful notes Sable had prepared, cross-referencing them against the elder's fragmented but increasingly clear memories. "A stretch of coastline marked by distinctive dark rock formations, visible from considerable distance."They spotted the cliffs late on the second afternoon, jagged black stone rising dramatically from the churning waves below, streaked with pale mineral deposits that gave the formation its evocative, mournful name. Nestled at the base of these cliffs, half-reclaimed by centuries of salt spray and relentless erosion, stoo
Sable worked through the night alongside the newly arrived elder, their combined knowledge gradually piecing together fragments of memory and faded family records scattered across generations of careful, guarded tradition. By the following morning, exhausted but determined, they presented their findings to the assembled council gathered in Nolan's study."We've identified three possible locations," Sable announced, spreading a hand-drawn map across the desk, marked with careful notations in her own precise handwriting. "The elder's memory, combined with fragments pulled from several ancient family journals, suggests these sites carry the strongest likelihood of harboring additional mirror pieces."The elder, still weak but considerably stronger after a full night's rest within the palace's careful care, leaned forward to point toward the first marked location. "A coastal ruin," she said, "along the eastern shoreline. My memory of this particular hiding place remains the clearest among
Gianna stared at the small shard of glass glowing softly in Draven's outstretched palm, disbelief and renewed suspicion warring within her despite the obvious resonance she could sense emanating from it, identical in quality to the fragment they'd just recovered from the mountain ruins."Where did you get that?" Nolan demanded, his hand already moving instinctively toward his sword hilt, the earlier revelation of Draven's unexplained knowledge about Luna's mark clearly still weighing heavily on his judgment despite the apparent value of what the young Alpha now offered."My family has kept it hidden for generations," Draven said, his voice carrying genuine earnestness despite the wariness evident in every face watching him. "Passed down carefully through each generation since my great-grandmother first claimed it belonged to our bloodline's connection to old Fae magic. I never fully understood its true purpose until Elmund began investigating my territory, which prompted me to finally
Chapter FourCyrus and Pietra said goodbye at the door for four full minutes.Gianna watched from inside the carriage through the small window, arms crossed, expression blank.Pietra had both of Cyrus's hands in hers. She was looking up at him saying something – Gianna couldn't hear it and honestl
Chapter ThreeGetting out of bed took longer than it should have.Evelyn hovered the entire time – hands half-raised, ready to catch her – while Gianna moved carefully, testing each step like she was walking on ice. The lump on her skull had softened slightly overnight but the unpleasant headache
Chapter TwoShe was having the best dream of her life.She didn't know what it was about – just that it was warm, and she was laughing, and nothing hurt.Then she felt eyes on her.Gianna's eyes snapped open.A man was sitting in the chair right beside her bed, close enough that she could see the i
Chapter OneThe gates swung open at dusk. Gianna heard the patrol return before she saw it – boots on gravel, wolves shifting back to skin, the familiar chaos of Valemont's warriors coming home.She was standing on the upper terrace with a glass of wine when she saw Cyrus walk through the main ga







