Page 208 of Moonlit Fate

He scrambled to his feet, eyes wide with alarm, then fled into the forest, disappearing like a ghost among the trees. One by one, the others followed, leaving me alone in the clearing.

My chest heaved as I fought to catch my breath. The fight had drained me, but victory was sweet. His devoted shifters, twisted with dark magic, had underestimated me.

“I did it,” I whispered.

I looked around at the eerily silent woods. In the distance, the manor stood untouched. I had protected it, protected everyone. At what cost?

Crimson Fang and Silver Claw had never been allies, but we’d maintained a fragile peace until Caius Thorne. His magic had twisted those shifters into mindless fanatics. We had to put an end to this. Without him, the hold he had over Crimson Fang would end.

Face hardening, I turned toward my childhood home. There was work to do, plans to make. I wouldn’t let fear dictate my path. Not now, not ever.

I trudged through the thick underbrush, my legs heavy with fatigue. The sun was a mere whisper behind the clouds, barely touching the earth with its light as it rose. I paused, closing my eyes to focus inward. I reached out for Atticus’s essence, that enigmatic presence that lingered in the corners of my mind.

“Atticus?” I whispered into the void, a silent plea riding on the tendrils of our link.

There was a glint, a strengthening of the connection. His shields were up again, solid and impenetrable, but they didn’t mask the vital hum of his existence. He was alive. My knees buckled, and I nearly fell to the ground in relief. Then worry set in. Why were his defenses so tight? What had shaken him?

“Please be okay,” I murmured, the words lost to the wind. “Check in soon.”

I resumed my journey, pushing through the last of the trees. Suddenly, as if conjured by thought alone, the cabin Philesia had given us access to appeared, its timbers aged and windows dark. She was treading carefully, doing her best to help while maintaining a delicate balance. I sent out my thanks, hoping that wherever she was, the words reached her ears.

I approached with caution. The door stood ajar, inviting or warning, I couldn’t tell. Hesitation gnawed at me, but curiosity was a stronger force. I pushed the door wider and stepped inside.

“Hello?” I called softly, half-expecting an echo that never came.

The silence wrapped around me like a blanket. It was the wonder of this impossible place, the magic that seemed to vibrate in the very air, that held me captive. I let out a slow breath and ventured deeper, ready for whatever lay ahead.

The crunch of paper stopped me short. Two figures hunched over a pile of books, their attention so deep it was like they were devouring the words.

“Seren? Lorian?” I whispered.

They jerked up, eyes wide. Seren’s face lit up with that familiar warmth that always made the worst days better. “Aria, “ she exclaimed and rushed over, nearly tripping on a stack of books. Her hug enveloped me in comfort and the faint scent of lavender.

“How did you know about this place?” I asked, pulling back to look at her.

“Lorian suggested a walk to clear my head. I kept thinking we were missing information, that if we just had the last bits of the puzzle, I could put it all together, then this cabin just... appeared,” Seren said. “Like magic.”

“It is,” I said. “It’s Philesia’s. She can’t outright tell us the answers, but she has a way of nudging us in the right direction.”

We shared a smile before she dragged me over to the table littered with open books. “Look at these,” she said, pointing to a hefty leather-bound book.

I leaned in closer, the text swimming before my eyes. It spoke of Lycanterra’s magic, how it laced through the realm, tying into other worlds. A balance that must be kept or all would spiral toward ruin. My heart sank.

“Doesn’t this mean I might have to...” I couldn’t finish the sentence, the thought of sacrifice hanging heavy between us.

Seren’s hand found mine, her grip firm. “We aren’t there yet. We’ll find another way.”

I nodded, wanting to believe her. Doubt gnawed at me like a relentless pest. If my life could ensure the safety of the realms...

“Maybe they should take me,” I murmured more to myself than to her.

“Hey,” Seren said sharply. “Don’t go down that road.”

“Right.” I forced a smile, though inside, the turmoil churned stronger. If giving myself up meant Atticus could live free, maybe even find happiness with someone else... it could be worth it.

“Whatever it takes,” I whispered.

The shadows in the corner of the cabin swirled and twisted into a human form, and before I could process what was happening, Atticus stumbled out of the darkness and collapsed into me. His weight bore down on me, and I wrapped my arms around him. Seren was at my side in an instant, her hands already under his arms, helping me ease him onto the floor.

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