*Ember*

The words echoed through my mind like a far-off whisper carried by the wind of my hopes and deepest fears. Alec was alive. He was still fighting, but what of the shadow walkers? Would they betray him? Were they aligned with Lukas?

I could hear his voice in the back of my mind. I felt the cold of the night air on my skin and stiffened my jaw as my heart started to race.

The cool breeze of the evening ruffled my hair as I tried to think. ...