The forest blurred around Evanna as she sprinted through the trees, branches clawing at her like skeletal fingers. Her heart thundered in her chest, adrenaline flooding her veins. Her lungs burned, but she didn’t stop—not even for a breath. Behind her, the moon began to crest, silver light bleeding into the sky, illuminating the dark path back to the den. Her parents’ home was in ruins, left smoldering in the wake of the high elves’ attack. She could still smell the fire, the sharp tang of blood in the air, the acrid scent of magic.
She hadn’t wanted to leave Thorne. Not him. Not Derek. Not West. But she had to. Her family needed her, and they needed to be safe. She had only glimpsed one elf—one—but that was enough. Their presence wasn’t just a threat. It was war.
Evanna stumbled into th
