Chapter 17: The High Seer's Warning
1023 Words
“Don't trust anyone.”
The High Seer's words hung in the air.
Lyra stared at the bloodstained dagger in her hand.
“Not even you?”
The woman shook her head.
“Especially not me.”
Kael stepped in front of Lyra.
“What happened?”
The High Seer looked toward the pack.
“They're already inside.”
“We know.”
“No.” She shook her head. “You don't.”
Her eyes moved to the warrior Kael had pinned against the tree.
“He isn't the only one.”
The warrior laughed quietly.
“You're too late.”
Kael tightened his grip.
“Who else is there?”
The warrior said nothing.
The High Seer stepped closer.
“Let him go.”
Kael looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because he's not the one you need to worry about.”
The warrior suddenly smiled.
Then his body went rigid.
His eyes rolled back.
Kael released him.
He collapsed to the ground.
Lyra stared.
“What happened?”
The High Seer crouched beside him and checked his pulse.
“He's dead.”
Maya covered her mouth.
“He was alive a second ago.”
The High Seer stood.
“There's a mark on his neck.”
Kael looked down.
A black symbol had appeared beneath the warrior's skin.
Lyra recognized it.
“The same symbol from the forest.”
The High Seer looked at her.
“Yes.”
Kael's expression hardened.
“Who uses it?”
The woman hesitated.
“The people who served the king's enemies.”
Lyra's stomach dropped.
“You mean the people who killed my father?”
“Yes.”
Kael looked toward the pack.
“Then why are they here now?”
The High Seer met his eyes.
“Because they know Lyra has awakened.”
A horn sounded again.
This time, much closer.
Kael turned.
“We need to get back.”
The High Seer shook her head.
“You can't.”
“Why?”
“Because the pack is no longer safe.”
Kael stared at her.
“My people are in there.”
“I know.”
“Then I'm going back.”
Lyra caught his arm.
“Kael.”
He looked at her.
“We can't leave them.”
“I know.”
“But if they're attacking the pack because of me—”
“This isn't your fault.”
“You don't know that.”
“I do.”
His voice softened.
“They chose to come here.”
Lyra looked at him.
“And if someone inside helped them?”
Kael went quiet.
That was the part neither of them wanted to say aloud.
The High Seer looked at Maya.
“Where is the Alpha's council?”
Maya frowned.
“At the main hall.”
“Then that's where they'll go first.”
Kael's expression changed.
“The council.”
He turned toward the forest.
“We have to warn them.”
The High Seer stepped in front of him.
“No.”
Kael's eyes narrowed.
“Move.”
“If you go through the main entrance, you'll walk straight into a trap.”
“Then where do we go?”
She pointed toward the northern ridge.
“There is an old passage beneath the training grounds.”
Kael looked at her suspiciously.
“How do you know that?”
The High Seer didn't answer immediately.
Finally, she said,
“Because I was the one who sealed it.”
Lyra frowned.
“Why?”
“To keep something from getting out.”
A silence settled over them.
Kael's voice was low.
“What did you seal?”
The High Seer looked at Lyra.
“Your answer is standing beside you.”
Lyra's heart skipped.
“Me?”
“No.”
The High Seer looked toward the darkness beyond the trees.
“The thing that woke when your blood awakened.”
A cold shiver ran through Lyra.
Kael stepped closer to the woman.
“You said the guardian was protecting the old kingdom.”
“It was.”
“Then what is beneath the training grounds?”
The High Seer looked away.
“Something older.”
Before anyone could ask another question, a scream rang out from the direction of the pack.
Lyra's blood ran cold.
Kael immediately turned.
“That came from the main hall.”
Another scream followed.
Then several wolves howled at once.
Kael started forward.
The High Seer grabbed his arm.
“Wait.”
He pulled free.
“People are dying.”
“And if you rush in there, you'll die too.”
Kael froze.
The High Seer looked at Lyra.
“They aren't attacking the pack to kill everyone.”
Lyra swallowed.
“Then what do they want?”
The woman's eyes settled on the glowing mark on Lyra's wrist.
“They want you.”
Kael's expression hardened.
“They'll have to get through me.”
The High Seer shook her head.
“That's exactly what they want.”
Lyra looked at Kael.
“What does she mean?”
The High Seer answered.
“They know you'll protect her.”
Kael's jaw tightened.
“So?”
“So they'll use you to reach her.”
The words sank in.
Lyra looked toward the pack.
She could hear the distant sounds of fighting.
Then she looked at Kael.
“I can't let them use you.”
He turned to her.
“They won't.”
“You don't know that.”
“I'll make sure they don't.”
Lyra shook her head.
“You can't protect me from everything.”
Kael stared at her.
“No.”
He reached for her hand.
“But I can stand beside you.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then the High Seer turned toward the northern ridge.
“There's no more time.”
She started walking.
Maya followed.
Lyra squeezed Kael's hand once before letting go.
“Let's go.”
They moved after the High Seer.
Behind them, the pack burned beneath the night sky.
And from somewhere beneath the earth...
something answered with a howl.
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