Chapter 22: The Moon’s Shadow
The mountain shook as if some ancient beast had stirred from beneath it. Fragments of stone fell from the broken ceiling of the temple, crashing around Kairo and Kaelen. The crimson glow that had consumed the chamber was fading, but not disappearing—it pulsed like a heartbeat within the walls, feeding off the shard now buried in Kairo’s chest.
Kairo staggered to his feet. His veins still burned, silver light threading beneath his skin, flickering every time his heart beat. His wolf was silent now—too silent. Before, it had always been a restless presence in his mind, pacing, snarling, sometimes whispering. Now it watched him, wordless and waiting.
Kaelen pulled himself upright, leaning on a half-shattered pillar. His face was pale, his breathing shallow, bu
