Chapter 4

At that time she thought she was making the right choice. Leaving him was an act of kindness—for both him and their unborn baby. The reality was that she had been scared. Worried about what the council might do. She was scared of the energy moving inside her stomach. The biggest worry was that Jayden would pick the crown instead of them.

Now she began to doubt whether he ever had a choice at all.

As the morning light began to shine on the trees, Ivy got up and went outside holding the letter tightly again. She took a small magical crystal from her cloak. It was one of Seraphine’s oldest tools. She held it up to her lips and softly said a name into the breeze.

The crystal shone softly. A voice responded.

Seraphine said, “I was curious when you would finally start to listen.” Her voice was far away but firm.

“I received your message,” Ivy said. “You have been observing.”

“Always.”

“Why is this happening now?”

“The threads are snapping.” The Moon Festival will strengthen the connection between people. “If you’re not present, the connection between you and Jayden will break.” Forever.

Ivy shut her eyes. “Perhaps that is the best choice.”

“Not right now, kid.” The connection has never been the main focus. “It’s focused on her.”

Aelin.

“She is starting to wake up.” Her blood is rushing, and her dreams are changing. “If you take too much time, the darkness will reach her before you do.”

Ivy felt a chill run through her body. “What darkness are you talking about?”

However, Seraphine had already left. The crystal's light turned gray.

Cassian went outside after her while he was still putting on his travel belt. “Are you prepared?”

Ivy took some time before she responded. She glanced at the letter one last time, then folded it and placed it in her bag.

“I’m not sure if I’m prepared,” she said quietly. “We still go regardless.”

Cassian gave a nod. “We always make it happen.”

As they started down the path, Ivy looked to the east—toward the mountains, toward Silver More and toward the life she had left behind a long time ago.

The letter made her come back.

She had finished hiding.

That morning, the air felt colder than normal, sharp and unusual—almost as if the world was pausing and waiting.

Ivy stood in the center of the open area in the forest holding her cloak tightly around her while she looked at the path through the trees. “The way to Silver More.”

She had been gone for more than six years. She disappeared with her unborn baby and cut herself off from the world of Lycans and their harsh rule. “However, it seemed that destiny had become restless.”

Her hands shook as she held the letter tightly.

It came quietly and unexpectedly. A raven with black feathers flew in, dropped something at her feet, and then flew away into the gray sky. Ivy almost overlooked it. She had set letters on fire before. She didn’t have any tolerance for threats or feelings of guilt.

However, this one...

The seal was very old. A symbol of the Crescent Moon Throne, which is used only during times of prophecy.

She left it closed for hours.

Only after Aelin fell asleep and the cottage become quiet. Under the soft glow of the flickering candlelight and with Cassian watching her closely, she cracked the wax seal and read the words that changed everything.

Ivy Ravenshade

“The moment has arrived.” “The strands of prophecy are coming apart.” She is waking up.

“You were never supposed to keep running endlessly.”

He looks for you even though he isn’t sure why.

“Come back before the Moon Festival.”

“Otherwise, the connection will be lost.”

She read it three times, and each line pierced her like a knife.

In the open area, she softly said, “Seraphine...”

Cassian walked over to her, and his cloak made a sound like crunchy leaves. “Do you believe it's from her?”

“I understand that it is.” Ivy’s voice sounded empty. “She was the only one who knew what I had done.” I was someone who...

Cassian spoke gently, "And that’s who you are."

Ivy remained silent. The forest surrounded them, alive and full of history as if it were listening. Her heart raced faster, now a mix of fear and memories. She was starting to recall memories she had pushed away. “Visions.” Fire. A voice in the darkness said, “Your child is not just an heir; she is the storm.”

Cassian put his hand on her shoulder. “We can set it on fire.” Leave. “You are no longer under her control.”

“Ivy responded, ‘She never did.’” “She was the only person who told me the truth while everyone else lied to me.” Jayden, the council, and the seers all wanted me to think that my child was a curse.

He tensed up next to her. “What should we do now?”

“Now I understand that she isn’t.” She gripped the parchment tightly with her fingers. “If Seraphine is giving me a warning, then something is on its way.” “Something more troubling than the truth.”

Cassian paused for a moment. “Let’s go now.” “However, they were ready.”

They hurried back to the cottage. Ivy filled her bag with dried herbs, runes, and three small bottles of lunar dust, which Seraphine had given her before she vanished. Cassian gathered his weapons. Aelin, not knowing about the trouble coming, twirled around them with a wooden sword while holding her favorite book under one arm.

“Are we going on an adventure, Mom?” She asked with a cheerful smile.

Ivy stopped for a moment and moved a piece of her daughter’s silver-blonde hair away from her face. “Sure, small moon.” A journey back home.

Aelin opened and closed her eyes quickly. “I believed we were back at home.”

Ivy felt a sharp pain in her heart. “I had the same thought.”

She stayed awake all night. She sat by the window, looking up at the moon as memories from her past came to her mind.

Jayden's eyes. “The comfort of his hug.” His face showed clear signs of betrayal when she took off.