The forest went silent. It was not the calm kind of silence and definitely not the peaceful kind. This was the kind that pressed against my ears until my head rang, like the world itself was holding its breath.

The remnants of the council stood at the edge of the clearing, their robes torn, their faces pale. Blood Moon light bled through the trees, staining everything red. I could feel it now, deep in my bones. The moon wasn’t just watching anymore.

It was answering. The air split ...