The ancient stone walls of the war room pulsed with magic.
Ivy stood at the center of the arcane circle, Kael beside her, his arm brushing hers — not by accident. The council murmured around them, voices low and distrustful, eyes filled with wariness and awe. After all, she now bore the Mark of Midnight. The prophecy was no longer a whisper — it was standing in front of them, glowing with silent power.
“I don't trust her,” a council member hissed. “No one has ever wielded that mark and survived.”
“She isn’t just surviving,” Kael snapped, stepping forward. “She’s commanding it.”
Ivy's throat tightened. “I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t ask for any of it. But I’m not going to sit here while our enemies cross the border and s*******r innocents.”
Silence.
Then, Kael spoke again, quieter t
