Lyra couldn’t shake the whispers. They had started as faint murmurs, barely audible over the sounds of the academy, but now they were constant—a steady hum at the edge of her mind. The artifact’s energy had grown stronger since they left the chamber, its presence an ever-looming shadow that neither she nor Eryon could ignore.
Late one night, as the academy’s halls fell silent, Seraphine appeared in their shared quarters. She emerged from the shadows like a ghost, her silver eyes glinting with an intensity that sent a shiver through Lyra.
“Children,” Seraphine said, her voice low but commanding. “It’s time you understand why I’m here.”
Eryon tensed, his wolf stirring uneasily at her presence. “We thought you’d gone,” he said, his tone carefully neutral.
“I’ve been watching,” Seraphine replied, stepping closer. “The artifact holds the key to destroying the Vampire King’s reign. With it, we can overthrow him and bring balance to this world.”
Lyra frowned, her instincts screaming caution. “You’re asking us to start a war?”
Seraphine’s gaze softened, though her voice remained firm. “No, child. I’m asking you to end one. His rule is a sickness—one that has festered for centuries. If we don’t act, it will consume everything.”
Eryon crossed his arms, his amber eyes narrowing. “And what happens if we fail?”
Seraphine’s lips curled into a faint smile, her confidence unshaken. “Then we don’t fail.”
Her unwavering certainty did little to ease their doubts. Lyra exchanged a glance with Eryon, her wolf growling faintly beneath her skin.
Seraphine stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “But no one else can know—not Adrian, not even Misery. This must stay between us.”
The weight of her words settled over them like a heavy cloak. Lyra wanted to trust her, to believe that this woman was truly their mother, but doubt lingered in the corners of her mind.
As Seraphine disappeared back into the shadows, Lyra turned to Eryon. “Do you trust her?”
Eryon didn’t answer immediately. His wolf paced restlessly, its instincts at war with his thoughts. “I don’t know,” he said finally. “But we don’t have much of a choice.”
