didn't sto

ythm, like a second heartbeat throbbing in the shadows of the room. Behind her, the fire in the hearth crackled and hissed, c

fingers as if trying to shake off the sting. A red mark alr

mother's grave?" he asked, his voice edg

r leaving the runes. "Someone with a purpose

alert, as if it too remembered the dagger-its weight, its history, the rituals her mother perf

hovering just above the weapon. "They weren't made to send mess

ed. "Then someone's

body snapping to attention. Instinct screamed that something wasn't right. Not just the magic-this was something older, d

standing flashing between

e nod. "And I kno

ys been a place of

r like gnarled hands reaching out of the earth. Mist settled there year-round, thick and unyielding, and the air hung heavy wi

las muttered besid

ing forward. "It's old.

rbed, swallowed whole by the dense fog. Rowan's heart pounded as they approached a crumbling st

wled over R

so. Magic clung to the clearing

cracked and blackened, swallowed in moss and decay. Rowan moved toward it slowly, brushing away the damp greenery t

sharp eyes, scanning every dark

g hand on the altar. "N

ic surged like a struck chord. The dagger in h

e world

ckened. And the Hollow dissolve

s no longer standi

epped into

ar was whole, glowing faintly beneath the moonlight, and a tall f

an

forgotten. Her tone was sharp, powerful, laced with strain. Blood dr

ame th

m the shadows, a silver wolf emerged. It moved slo

her mother didn't lift her hands to cas

pt-and Eland

shadow. Energy crackled and warped the very

ed, her eyes lock

e said, her voice both firm

d back. "What

et," Elandra said. "But

ory sha

or breath. Her chest heaved as reality returned. Sila

k to me. Wh

g. "My mother. She was here. She... she wasn

is voice low. "That's no

id, slowly ris

-it wasn't cast as punishment. It was meant as protection. A bi

Silas said, watching he

ond, a low growl echo

n't di

hesitation, his eyes glowing faintly w

es emerged. One. Two. Then four. Six.

ulling at her magic. It rushed for

as said, tension radi

s already

ering. Rowan recognized him immediately. From the visions. From the echoes of the

to a man. His face was lean, angular, and crue

mocking. "The prodigal witch returns.

narrowed. "

her question. "Name's Kellen," he replied. "And

sed on

ind them expl