The world grew quiet after the echo disappeared.

Days passed, and Iron Howl felt lighter. Wolves sang again, children laughed, and even Kael’s fire burned calm. But inside me, something still moved. The air sometimes shimmered, like a breath that wasn’t mine.

The Moonfire child noticed first.

“Mother,” she said one morning, her voice soft. “The song didn’t stop. It’s sleeping inside people now.”

I froze. “What do you mean?”

She touched my hand. “Every night, I hear ...