**MATTEO**
I nodded once. “I’ll reach out right now.”
I closed my eyes briefly and opened a mind-link, reaching across the distance with practiced ease. The connection clicked almost instantly. *Zephyr.*
The response came back sharp and wary. *Matteo. It’s been a while. What kind of trouble are you dragging me into this time?*
*Not dragging. I need you here — neutral ground, the old clearing by the eastern border. Now. Bring everything you have on dark moon signatures from the last twelve hours. Lives are on the line. Children.*
There was a heavy pause on his end. Then: *I’m already on it. I flagged something the second it happened. On my way. Fifteen minutes.*
I opened my eyes and looked at Lara. “He’s coming. Fifteen minutes. The old eastern border clearing.”
She didn’t speak, jus
