The first rays of sunlight barely pierced through the thick canopy of Black Hollow, yet the estate’s training grounds were already alive with movement.
Midnight stood at the center of a large clearing, the snow crunching under her boots, her black hair sticking to her damp face. Her chest rose and fell sharply. The events of the last night were still raw in her memory—the Hollow King’s awakening, the Shadow Eaters’ devotion, Malakar’s whispered commands through her blood, and Kael’s unshakable presence beside her.
Kael approached silently, the alpha’s presence heavy and commanding even without shifting. His silver eyes glinted with morning light, reflecting the storm that still raged within her.
“You will learn something today,” he said quietly. “Something that will decide whether you s
