The royal convoy had split under a dawn sky heavy with unease, the air thick with the scent of pine and impending rain as Jackson and Mia peeled off toward Whisper territory. Thirty warriors rode in armored SUVs, silver spears at the ready, UV lamps humming in the cargo. Jackson gripped the wheel, his blue eyes scanning the treeline, Blaze pacing restlessly within, the mating mark on his neck throbbing like a fresh wound. The bond with Lilith tugged at him, her voice a steady whisper in his mind: Be careful, J. Lirien senses shadows ahead. Mia sat shotgun, her auburn hair tied back, green eyes sharp as she clutched her journal, the pressed violet flower pressed between pages like a talisman. “You think Elara’s legit?” she asked, voice laced with nerves. “Her letter felt right, but after th
