POV: Riley
The sky was on fire.
Not with flame—but with shadow and moonlight colliding in violent bursts that shook the very air. Screams echoed across the battlefield as Shades poured through the broken western gate like a living flood.
I felt Alex’s power blaze beside me—wild, brilliant, terrifying.
But my eyes locked on one thing.
The children.
They were trapped near the fountain—five of them, frozen in terror as shadow-wolves circled closer. One barrier flickered weakly in front of a wounded guard who could barely stand.
“No,” I whispered.
Then I ran.
The world blurred as I tore across the courtyard, magic ripping from my core before my feet even touched stone. A shadow lunged—
I raised my hands.
“Moon’s Mercy!”
Silver light detonated outward in a violent wave, slamming int
