Charlotte stood at the northern wall, silver constellations glowing faintly beneath her skin. The spirit-wolf’s essence no longer felt separate from her. It lived in her veins now — steady, ancient, aware.
Across the treeline, the Shadowborn army had halted.
Even their leader remained on one knee.
But not in surrender.
In calculation.
The wind shifted.
Then he rose slowly.
“You rush destiny,” he called, crimson eyes fixed on Charlotte. “You were meant to awaken in pieces.”
Charlotte’s voice, when she spoke, carried something deeper than confidence.
“Maybe you were wrong.”
A ripple of silver energy expanded outward from her body — not violent, not explosive.
Commanding.
The Shadowborn nearest the forest edge staggered backward as if pushed by invisible hands.
Ethan stepped slig
