By the third morning, I could feel the circle calling before I even reached it.
The stones thrummed softly in the distance, like a heartbeat waiting for mine. The forest itself seemed to breathe with us now-branches swaying without wind, the air trembling just enough to raise the fine hairs on my arms.
Lilly and James were already there, waiting, both looking as restless as I felt. Dominic stood beside Father, quiet as always, his gaze fixed on the mist curling through the trees.
“We’ll start earlier this time,” Father said.
“The Moon wanes soon. You’ll need to stabilize before it does.”
We took our places in the circle. Silver light rose under our feet; the sigils burned brighter than before. I closed my eyes and felt Lilly’s heartbeat align with mine, then James’s, until the three
