Rowan's hands were still trembling when he spread the sealed scroll across the table.
"This record has been locked away in the temple for 30 years," he said, keeping his head lowered. "When someone truly blessed by the Moon Goddess lets their blood touch the Sacred Spring, the water will glow silver. But if the blood belongs to someone corrupted by the Black Moon, it turns black, like scorched ink."
Footsteps sounded outside. A moment later, Cassian entered with his lieutenant behind him.
"We caught someone near the border," he said.
A patrol had found a wounded survivor who had escaped from the Black Marsh Trial Grounds.
The moment the man was brought into the room, he dropped to his knees.
"Seraphina came from the Black Marsh Trial Grounds. She was a failed sacrifice. The people th
