Ella's POV
A scroll was unfurled across the table. On it, drawn in blood and ash, were sigils unfamiliar to me—but not to the Elders. Selene's hand hovered over one symbol in particular, her brow creased.
"This was found near the ruins of the eastern border," she said. "It's ancient. Protective. But inverted."
I frowned. "Inverted?"
"It's a warning disguised as a ward," Christian muttered, stepping closer to the table. His eyes glittered, dark with understanding.
"Smart. If someone untrained stumbled on it, they'd think it was shielding the land. But it's luring something in. Or keeping something trapped."
Remo's jaw tightened like steel grinding against itself. "And this was found after the child was nearly killed?"
"Yes," Alaric confirmed grimly. "Darius was lucky."
My stomach k
