Alfred was already waiting when Bella reached him, jaw tight, eyes locked on the tree line where the corpses had collapsed only minutes ago. Warriors surrounded the area, tense and confused, but no one dared get too close. Bella felt the cold grip of dread still clinging to her skin. The memory of those dead bodies crying her name… it wouldn’t leave her.

Alfred turned to her the second she stepped beside him. “You shouldn’t be out here,” he said, voice sharp with worry. “Whatever ...