Kael POV

The mountain air was sharp and cold, carrying the scent of pine and storm.

I stood at the mouth of the den, staring down into the forest below. The night was quiet, but it wasn’t peaceful. Not anymore. Not since the goddess had branded Ardyn.

That mark on her chest was more than a threat; it was a declaration.

She’d claimed her.

And tonight, she’d claimed herself back.

Behind me, I could hear the soft murmur of voices. Lira was arguing with Fen again, her voice sharp, his ...