The fae lands shimmered with otherworldly beauty, but beneath the surface pulsed something far more ancient—alive, and aware.
Sophia walked slightly ahead, guided by an invisible thread of energy that tugged at her chest. Every step deepened her awareness. She could hear the hum of the land, the heartbeat of the earth beneath her feet. Flowers bloomed in her wake, vines reached for her ankles like they recognized her. Her fingers tingled with power she hadn't yet named.
Behind her, Lucian kept his eyes locked on her. He hadn't said much since they reunited with his wolf soldiers, but his presence was a constant heat at her back. His army—the fiercest warriors of both wolf and vampire blood—moved silently, deadly, surrounding them in a protective formation.
Selene kept close to her left, her gaze sharp, her movements confident. "You feel it, don't you?" the witch murmured.
Sophia nodded, her voice hushed. "The land… it's singing to me."
"It's calling you home."
They made camp that night beneath a sky lit with violet moons and twinkling stars, the kind Sophia had only ever dreamed of. She sat by the fire, watching the flames dance. Her hair, now almost waist-length, shimmered silver in the firelight. The tips of her shoulder blades ached with a dull throb—something beneath her skin wanted out.
Lucian approached slowly, as though afraid he'd burn her with his touch. "You're changing fast."
She turned to him, a small smile on her lips. "Do I scare you?"
"No." He crouched beside her, his voice low. "But I fear for what they'll do if they realize just how powerful you are."
"The witches? The fae?" she asked.
"Everyone."
Silence stretched between them. His hand hovered near hers but didn't touch. He was still holding himself back.
"I dreamed of this place," she whispered. "Before you came to me. The stars. The glowing trees. I didn't know what it meant."
"You were always meant to return." He looked into her eyes, something tortured behind his gaze. "I just never imagined it would be like this."
The night grew quiet around them, the only sound the rustle of wind through glowing leaves. Sophia's body pulsed with energy. She felt as if she were shedding one skin and stepping into another.
Suddenly, the earth beneath her trembled slightly, and a whisper—soft but urgent—filled her ears.
Come. The portal awaits.
Her head snapped up. "Did you hear that?"
Lucian frowned. "Hear what?"
"The portal. It's calling me."
Selene appeared instantly, eyes narrowed. "What did you say?"
Sophia stood, her eyes distant. "It said the portal awaits."
Without waiting, she started walking toward the eastern ridge, drawn by a force older than time. Lucian cursed under his breath and followed, signaling his warriors.
Beneath her feet, ancient runes lit the path. Trees parted. The land itself bent in recognition.
She was getting closer.
To the portal.
To her truth.
To everything.