Three weeks passed after Lilith's latest escape.
Three weeks of relative peace, of rebuilding, of *hope*. The alliance between wolves and vampires grew stronger each day. More vampires arrived from distant territories, drawn by stories of a place where ancient hatreds had been set aside. More wolves accepted them, learning to see beyond centuries of enmity.
Lena threw herself into the work.
She mediated disputes between wolves and vampires who still struggled to trust each other. She trained with Kael to master her wolf instincts, with Caspian to control her vampire side. She practiced with her light, learning to extend it further, to make it brighter, to *share* it with those who needed hope.
But through it all, a part of her waited.
Lilith was out there. Lilith would return. It was
