The wind howled through the clearing, carrying the scent of smoke and iron. The battle was over, but the silence that followed felt worse than the noise. Everyone stood frozen, eyes fixed on Eryx.
My father.
He stood at the edge of the moonlight, cloak brushing the dirt, his silver eyes bright even in the dark. The way he looked at me made my chest ache. There was pride there, but sadness too, like he already knew what came next wouldn’t be easy.
Arlo was the first to move. “You said they’re coming.” He said carefully. “Who are you talking about?”
Eryx didn’t answer right away. He looked out toward the forest, where the shadows were still thick between the trees. “Not the Eclipse wolves.” He said finally. “Something much older. The ones who created the first darkness.”
I frowned. “You
