The Forbidden Mountains weren’t marked on most maps for a reason.
Older than any kingdom, cloaked in mist and myth, the range had swallowed armies and spat out bones. No one sane ventured there. And yet, Ivy’s path was set.
She stood before the jagged trail at dawn, flanked by Kael, Ember, Thorne, and Magnus. Behind them, only silence — the Hollow watched in anxious stillness, uncertain if their queen would return.
“We shouldn’t all go,” Kael said. “What if it’s a trap?”
“Then I need the strongest beside me,” Ivy answered. “No more hiding behind walls. If the truth lies in these mountains, I’ll face it head-on.”
And so, they rode.
The Climb Begins
By midday, the terrain grew harsh. Cold wind howled through the peaks, whispering in languages no one remembered. Snow crusted the edges
