The horse’s steady rhythm beneath her legs was a comfort in the uncertainty that stretched before her. The Ember Circle rode through dense forests and winding paths, leaving Raventhorn and its shadows far behind.
Aria’s fingers traced the black ring Damien had given her — warm against her skin, a silent reminder of a promise made and a future uncertain.
Beside her, Selyra rode with practiced grace, her eyes sharp and watchful. “The path ahead is not easy,” she said softly. “But you carry a power few have ever possessed.”
Aria swallowed, watching the flickering embers of dawn through the canopy. “I still don’t understand what I truly am.”
Selyra nodded. “The Flameborn are rare — born of mortal blood and ancient fire. You can heal and destroy with the same breath. But that power must be
