The ground beneath Selene's feet began to tremble as the ritual progressed. The pulse of energy that surged through the Heartstone grew more intense, a strange and unfamiliar power that clawed at her senses. The air thickened with the scent of earth and something far older—something ancient, dangerous. The ritual had begun, but with it, a terrifying sense of inevitability settled over her. She could feel the power of the moon as it flooded into the circle, encircling them both like a living thing, its icy touch seeping deep into her bones.
Ronan stood beside her, his eyes closed in concentration. His hands were clasped around the Heartstone, and his face was drawn with the effort of holding the ritual together. Selene could feel his struggle, could see the way his body tensed with the wei
