We gathered at the archway's edge, the towering entity of light settling into a calmer, steadier presence as our group formed a wide circle around the ancient stone frame.
"Selene and Thessaly at the center," the entity instructed. "The remaining piece of myself will join through the ground directly beneath you both. Everyone else, form the outer circle, hands joined, intention focused entirely on willing support rather than fear."
We arranged ourselves as instructed, Kade taking his position directly behind me, close enough that I could feel his steady presence even without turning to look at him. Isolde and Vesper stood together at one edge of the circle. Their earlier rivalry long since transformed into something closer to genuine respect. Rowan and Mira joined hands nearby, Odessa co
