Chapter 53 – Kaelen’s Brother Returns
The wind shifted at dusk, carrying with it the sharp tang of iron. Seren lifted her head, every nerve in her body prickling. She wasn’t alone in noticing it—Kaelen froze mid-step, his nostrils flaring, eyes narrowing to slits. Even Lyra straightened where she crouched by the fire, her hand falling to the hilt of her blade.
“Blood,” Kaelen muttered. His voice was a growl, more animal than man.
The scent was old, not fresh, but it was threaded with something else—something familiar, unsettling. It wasn’t Lucien’s trail, nor the stench of vampire rot. This was different. Wilder.
Seren swallowed hard. “What is it?”
Kaelen didn’t answer. His gaze flicked toward the eastern ridge, the muscles in his jaw taut. For the first time since she had known him,
