We prepared the ritual with what we had—my blood, the symbol in my hand, the old sigils sketched into the earth from the book. Nathan guided me as I chanted the words I'd heard, his arms steady even as his eyes glistened with fear.
When the final word left my lips, the glow surged around me. For one moment, I felt everything.
The seal, the danger, the power… all at once. Somehow, I felt the girl I used to be fading behind the woman I had to become.
It was overwhelming.
Luca returned shortly after, probably from keeping watch. I didn't mention the dream or the ritual, Nathan didn't either. Luca, however, noticed the atmosphere was tense, I knew because he asked.
“Anything happened while I was away?" His tone was calm, but his eyes weren't.
I shook my head. I didn't want to talk about
