The moment Ivy returned to camp with Ember in her arms, the atmosphere shifted.
At first, there was relief—cheers that she was alive, that Kael and the others had returned safely.
Then they saw the girl.
And the cheers… stopped.
Velar stepped forward, armor gleaming, gaze locked on the pale child curled against Ivy’s chest.
“Who is that?” he asked.
Ivy held her tighter. “Her name is Ember. She’s my sister.”
Velar’s jaw tightened. “Another flameborn?”
“Yes.”
A beat of silence.
Then—whispers.
Suspicion.
Fear.
Liora stepped beside Ivy. “She was imprisoned beneath a Shadow King temple. Runes burned into her skin. Bound magic.”
“She’s a child,” Kael added coldly. “And she’s one of us.”
Cassian approached, slowly. “We need to examine her, Ivy. For the safety of the army.”
“She’s
