Liora POV
The ruins spit us out into a fog-choked clearing like a beast coughing up bones, the sudden rush of cold, damp air hitting my face as we stumble through a collapsed archway. My lungs burn from the sprint through the collapsing tunnels, legs trembling from the strain, but the dagger clutched in my hand pulses warm and steady, its ruby glowing faintly against my skin like a living ember. The visions still echo in my skull—Elowen’s fierce howls echoing across ancient mountains, Thorne’s proud voice naming me heir, Elora’s gentle warning about the true mate who would anchor me. The weight of centuries presses on my chest, heavy and exhilarating all at once. Aria is stronger now, no longer a distant whisper but a steady, vibrant rumble, her presence coiling through my veins like liqu
