The fire had long since burned down to embers, but Lillian remained awake, staring into the darkness. Sleep eluded her, chased away by the weight of everything she had learned. She was Moonborn. The last of a lost people. And whatever waited in the Ruins of the First Moon would determine not just her fate, but the fate of the Lycans. A shift in the wind sent a chill down her spine. The forest was never truly silent, but this stillness was unnatural. The kind that preceded a predator’s strike. A flicker of movement at the tree line caught her attention. Lillian rose to her feet, every instinct on high alert. “Who’s there?” No answer. The night air pulsed, heavy with unseen energy. Then— A shadow moved. Before she could react, a figure emerged from the darkness. Tall. Cloaked in black. Eyes like liquid silver. Not the woman from before. Someone else. Someone wrong. Lillian’s pulse pounded as she took a step back. “Who are you?” The figure tilted its head, s
Dawn broke over the Bloodwood in streaks of gold and crimson, but there was no warmth in the morning air. The Lycans moved swiftly, breaking camp with practiced efficiency. Armor was strapped on, weapons checked, and mounts prepared. Lillian stood beside Aedric at the edge of the clearing, staring into the dense forest ahead. The path to the Eclipsed Lands was treacherous, but the Ruins of the First Moon lay beyond them—and with it, the truth she had been seeking. Aedric turned to Gregor. “Are the warriors ready?” Gregor nodded. “They await your command.” His dark eyes flickered to Lillian. “If we do this, we may not return.” Lillian met his gaze, steady. “Then we don’t fail.” Aedric smirked, pride flashing in his golden eyes. “Mount up. We ride now.” The Lycans obeyed without question. Warhorses and massive direwolves were prepared for the journey ahead. Aedric swung onto his black warhorse, the beast shifting beneath him with eager energy. Lillian moved toward her own
The Lycans moved swiftly, their warhorses and direwolves weaving through the dense Bloodwood as they followed Fenros. The great silver wolf glided ahead of them, his movements effortless, as if he were more shadow than flesh. Lillian’s mind churned with what she had seen—the memories, the name Lilliana, the war she had no recollection of. Had she truly been one of the Moonborn? And if so… why had she forgotten? Aedric rode beside her, his golden eyes flicking to her every so often. He had seen her falter, seen the way she had nearly collapsed after Fenros pulled her into that vision. And though he said nothing, she could feel his concern. Finally, he spoke. “Are you sure you can do this?” Lillian straightened, gripping the reins tighter. “I don’t have a choice, do I?”Aedric exhaled, his expression dark. “There’s always a choice, Lillian.” She turned to him, searching his face. “Would you turn back, if you could?” His jaw tightened, but he didn’t look away. “No.” She nod
The Shadowborn shrieked as Lillian’s power surged, the silver light radiating from her like moonfire. The mist around them recoiled, and for the first time, the dark figures faltered. Aedric’s golden eyes widened as he saw her—saw the way her entire being seemed to glow, the mark of the moon burning against her skin. This wasn’t just raw magic. This was something ancient. Something divine. Fenros stood beside her, his silver fur bristling. "Now, Moonborn. Show them who you are." Lillian didn’t fully understand what was happening, but instinct drove her forward. She raised a hand, and the light obeyed, pulsing outward like a living force. The closest Shadowborn shrieked and disintegrated, their forms unraveling into nothingness. The others hesitated—but only for a moment. Then they attacked. They came like a dark wave, shifting unnaturally, their claws reaching for her. Aedric roared, cutting through the nearest one with his sword, his movements brutal and precise. The
The ruins of the lost city stretched around them, silent and eerie beneath the dim light of the overcast sky. The temple loomed ahead, its silver dome cracked but still standing, a testament to the power that once thrived here. Lillian’s footsteps felt heavy as she approached, the weight of memories—both known and unknown—pressing against her chest. Fenros halted at the temple’s entrance, his silver eyes dark with something unreadable. "Beyond these doors, the truth will not wait. Are you prepared?" Lillian clenched her fists. She didn’t feel ready. But she nodded anyway. “I have to be.” Aedric stepped beside her, his hand brushing hers for the briefest moment. “You’re not alone.” The gesture steadied her, and she inhaled deeply before pushing open the ancient doors. Inside the Temple The air inside was thick with the scent of old magic. The walls were lined with silver carvings, depicting scenes of battles, rituals, and a council of Moonborn standing beneath a full moon.
The moment Lillian’s fingers closed around the silver circlet, a surge of energy ripped through her. The temple vanished. The battle disappeared. She was somewhere else.A Memory Long Forgotten Moonlight bathed the great hall, its silver glow reflecting off the polished marble floor. Massive banners, embroidered with celestial symbols, hung from the towering columns. A gathering of warriors stood before her—men and women clad in silver armor, their eyes glowing with the same ethereal light that now pulsed through her veins.And at the center of them all stood him.Not Aedric.Another. A man with onyx-black hair and piercing midnight-blue eyes, dressed in robes of deep silver. His presence was overwhelming, radiating both wisdom and power. He watched her with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. “Lilliana,” he said, his voice echoing in the vast chamber. “The time has come.” She knew this man. She had once trusted him.But she couldn’t remember his name. “What t
The temple’s silence was heavy with the weight of revelation. Lillian stood still, the name Kael echoing in her mind, reverberating through the newly restored memories that flooded her soul. Kael. A name she had once spoken with trust. With love. Now, it burned like poison on her tongue. Aedric tightened his grip on his sword. “Who is he?” Lillian exhaled slowly. “He was once my most trusted advisor. A Moonborn, like me. But he was the one who orchestrated our downfall.” She met Aedric’s gaze, her silver eyes filled with barely restrained fury. “He convinced me that erasing our people from history was the only way to stop the darkness. But it was a lie.” Fenros let out a low growl. "He did not seek to destroy the darkness. He sought to control it." Lillian’s fingers curled into fists. “And he succeeded.” Aedric’s expression darkened. “If he’s still alive, then where is he?” The temple’s walls pulsed faintly in response, the magic whispering secrets only Lillian coul
The fire crackled weakly as Kael stepped into the dim light, his presence turning the cold even sharper. He was exactly as Lillian remembered him—tall, elegant, his onyx-black hair falling loosely around his angular face. But his eyes… they were different. No longer the deep, stormy blue she had once trusted. Now, they were nothing but void.Aedric moved in front of her instinctively, his golden eyes blazing. “Stay back.”Kael tilted his head slightly, his lips curving into something that might have once been a smile. “Aedric. Ever the loyal guard dog.” His voice was smooth, laced with mockery. “I expected you to be dead by now.”Aedric tightened his grip on his sword, but Lillian placed a hand on his arm. She stepped forward, holding Kael’s gaze.“You should be dead too.”Kael exhaled a soft chuckle. “And yet, here I stand.” He took another step toward her, his long cloak dragging over the snow. “You remembered me, didn’t you?” Lillian’s jaw clenched. “I remembered everything.” Ka
The fires in the palace had been extinguished, the bloodstained halls now eerily silent. The bodies of the Black Fang assassins had been cleared, but the stench of death lingered. The battle was won, yet a heavy tension still clung to the air.Aedric stood on the balcony overlooking the courtyard, his arms crossed, his jaw clenched. The moon hung high above him, a silent witness to the slaughter. He should have felt victorious. Instead, all he felt was rage.“They dared to touch my home,” he murmured, his voice low, lethal.Behind him, Lillian stepped closer. She had bathed and changed, the golden embroidery of her gown shimmering in the torchlight. But beneath the regal elegance, she was still a warrior. A woman who had fought for her place beside him.“They were trying to send a message,” she said.Aedric turned to her, his silver eyes dark with fury. “Then I will answer it.”Lillian placed a hand on his chest, grounding him. “We need to be careful. This wasn’t just an assassination
Lillian did not hesitate.She sprinted down the palace corridors, her heart hammering, her breath steady. The Black Fang had infiltrated the castle, but they had made a grave mistake—they thought she was defenseless.A group of assassins turned the corner ahead, their cloaks dark as the night, their blades gleaming. They didn’t speak. They attacked.Lillian moved like fire.She ducked the first swing, her instincts sharp, her body knowing what to do before she even thought. She grabbed the wrist of the second attacker, twisting it sharply—a sickening crack echoed through the hall as the blade fell from his grasp.With her other hand, she summoned her magic.A pulse of golden energy shot from her fingertips, sending two assassins slamming into the wall. They collapsed, unmoving.More came.Lillian reached for the dagger strapped to her thigh. Aedric’s dagger.And she fought.Every lesson Cassian had drilled into her, every strategy Aedric had forced her to learn—it all came rushing bac
The night air was cold as Aedric led his warriors into the forbidden lands. The Shadowlands stretched before them—a vast, cursed wilderness, where few dared to tread. The trees were twisted, their branches reaching like skeletal hands. The air itself felt wrong, thick with something unseen. Cassian rode beside Aedric, his golden eyes sharp. “If the Black Fang has truly rebuilt their fortress, they’ve had years to prepare.” Aedric’s grip on the reins tightened. “Then we burn them out.” His wolf snarled inside him, restless. Valcairn had been a distraction—but the true enemy had been lurking in the shadows all along. The Black Fang.They were more than just traitors. They were the remnants of an ancient order, sworn to destroy the Lycan throne. And now, they had Valcairn.Elaria’s horse trotted up beside them. “There’s a blood spell guarding the entrance to the fortress,” she warned. “If we don’t break it first, they’ll know we’re coming. Aedric grinned, sharp and cruel. “Let th
The air inside the throne room was suffocating. Tension coiled tight, like a bowstring ready to snap. The nobles who had been summoned the night before now stood before the throne again, uneasy and wary. They had heard of Valcairn’s disappearance. They knew what this meant. Aedric sat upon the throne, his expression carved from cold, unyielding stone. Cassian stood at his right, hands clasped behind his back, eyes gleaming with predatory sharpness. Lillian stood at Aedric’s left, her own gaze sweeping the gathered lords and ladies, watching for even the smallest sign of weakness. Someone here was guilty. Someone had helped Valcairn. Someone had known. Aedric let the silence stretch before he finally spoke. “Last night, Valcairn was taken from my dungeons.” The words sent a ripple through the gathered nobles. Some flinched. Others stayed too still. Aedric leaned forward, his voice low and sharp. “Which means one of you made it happen.” Silence. Then Lord Athren cleared his t
The Great Hall was in chaos. Nobles whispered frantically, guards tightened their grips on their weapons, and the scent of fear was thick in the air. Lillian’s heart pounded as Valcairn was dragged from the hall, his twisted smile still burned into her mind. His last words echoed like a prophecy. "Do you really think I was the only one?" Cassian stayed close to her side, his golden eyes scanning the nobles. He was looking for anyone too tense, too still, too afraid. Because fear revealed guilt, and right now, someone else in this room was hiding a secret. Aedric finally spoke, his voice cold and commanding. “This gathering is over.” The nobles did not argue. They moved quickly, eager to escape the weight of suspicion that hung over them. The guards escorted them out, but Aedric’s warriors watched every movement, memorizing every face. Lillian turned to Elaria. “What magic was that? That… pulse?” Elaria’s expression was unreadable. “Dark magic. Blood magic.” She exhaled. “Valc
The weight of Aedric’s words settled over the room like a storm cloud. The Royal Court. Lillian clenched her hands at her sides. The nobles had always been treacherous, but the idea that one of them had a hand in breaking the seal—that they had knowingly put the kingdom at risk—was a different kind of treason. Cassian’s golden eyes gleamed with fury. “We need names.” Aedric turned to Elaria. “You said the seal was tampered with before Selene’s death. Did she have accomplices?” Elaria folded her arms, deep in thought. “If she did, they were careful. But there were always whispers of alliances in the shadows. Nobles who resented the Lycan rule. Those who wished to restore the old ways.” Lillian’s throat tightened. “The old ways?” Aedric’s voice was grim. “The age of the Blood Courts.” Silence. Cassian cursed. “You’re saying there are nobles who want to bring back the monsters who once ruled these lands?” Elaria’s face was unreadable. “Not just any nobles. Descendants of the o
The temple shook, dust and debris crumbling from the ceiling as the crack in the altar widened. A deep, guttural growl echoed from within, something ancient and hungry stirring in the darkness. Lillian’s pulse thundered. Cassian yanked her backward, his sword drawn in a flash of silver. “We need to move. Now.” Elaria stood frozen, her silver eyes locked on the crack. “This shouldn’t be happening. The seal—” A howling scream erupted from the altar. Not a sound of pain—a call. The torches lining the chamber snuffed out at once. For a single breath, there was only darkness. Then, they came. Shadowed figures slithered from the fissure, their forms shifting like living smoke. Their eyes burned red, their bodies twisting unnaturally as they crawled toward them. Lillian’s breath caught. They weren’t just monsters. They were specters of the damned. Cassian shoved her behind him as one lunged forward, its clawed hand swiping through the air—passing right through his blade as if it
The journey to the Temple of the Moon was swift but tense. Cassian rode beside Lillian, his sharp eyes scanning the darkened treetops, while six heavily armed Lycans flanked them.The deeper they traveled into the sacred lands, the more uneasy Lillian felt.The temple was ancient—older than the Lycan kingdom itself—and built upon the ruins of something even more mysterious. The air hummed with old magic, the kind that made her skin prickle. As they approached, the towering stone entrance loomed before them. Two priestesses in silver robes waited at the gate, their faces shadowed beneath their hoods. Lillian dismounted and stepped forward. “I need to see the High Priestess.” One of the robed figures lifted her head. Bright silver eyes met hers. “She’s been expecting you.” Inside the TempleThe halls of the temple were lined with flickering torches, their flames unnaturally still. The scent of burning incense filled the air, mingling with something darker—old blood. Lillian and C
Lillian stood over Selene’s lifeless body, her breath steady, her grip on the dagger unyielding. The forest was eerily silent now, the echoes of battle fading into the cold night air. Aedric reached for her, his warm fingers brushing against her wrist. “It’s done,” he murmured, his golden eyes watching her carefully. But Lillian wasn’t so sure. Selene’s last words still rang in her ears. "You think this is over? You have no idea what’s coming." A chill that had nothing to do with the night air crept down her spine. Cassian approached, wiping his blade clean. “We should burn the body,” he said. “Make sure there’s nothing left.” Lillian nodded absently, but her mind was elsewhere. Selene had always been a strategist. A woman who never moved unless the board was set in her favor. If she had been so willing to die here tonight… What had she set in motion before her end? Aedric seemed to sense her unease. He turned to Cassian. “Do it. Then return to the castle. We need to reinfo