The figure that rose from the Gate was neither Kael nor Rhovan. It was both — and more.

Light and shadow poured from its skin like liquid thought, silver bleeding into gold, the two suns of the sundered sky burning in its eyes. Its voice came as a thousand overlapping whispers, each one a fragment of the same name.

“Alpha...”

Elaria stumbled back, shaking her head. “No—no, that’s not them. That’s—”

Draven pulled her behind him, shielding her with his arm even as the ...