Light erupted from the cavern roof in a blinding column, shooting into the storm above the mountain. Trees bowed, wolves stumbled, even the Council’s soldiers covering the slopes shielded their eyes.
At the center of it, Aurelia stood with Kane beside her, white-gold power streaming from her like a second sun. Her heartbeat thundered like war drums. The cavern trembled beneath her feet, stone splitting in jagged lines that reached the walls.
Lysandra’s voice cut through the roar.
“Ria! The Council is breaching the outer cliff! We have moments!”
Aurelia felt it through the air dozens of armored soldiers advancing, metal scraping stone, runes burning like flames. The Council was closing in on them from all directions.
And yet the First Bondborn didn’t move.
He simply watched her, ancie
