The mountain groaned beneath them.
Not from damage.
Recognition.
Midnight felt it instantly through the soles of her feet—a pulse spreading through the abyss beneath Draven Ridge like a living heartbeat awakening after centuries asleep.
And now it was watching them.
Her.
Kael.
Together.
The Hollow King staggered backward against the shadows restraining it, crimson eyes fixed on the shifting runes across the cavern walls.
“No,” it whispered.
For the first time since Midnight met the creature—
it sounded afraid.
Lucien slowly turned in a circle, staring at the symbols changing from crimson to silver-black.
“They’re bonding to both of you,” he said quietly.
Kael’s expression darkened instantly.
Midnight’s stomach dropped.
“What does that mean?”
Lucien looked genuinely disturb
