ok, his expression hard. "We figure out what the p

Lyorine asked, her

rs, his jaw tightening. "

as Zach's words hung in the air, heavier than the weight of the prophecy itself. She knew he meant every word. Failure wasn't an option for

s bang from the front door. The sound reverberated through the house, making her

commanded, his v

nds already glowing faintly with the beginnings o

ng." His tone was cold

fear. Not for himself, but for her. She swallowed hard and nodded reluctantly. Zach gave her

enched her fists. "Stay here," she mu

ilent against the floorboards. Whatever was at the door, it

*

on the porch were three figures cloaked in dark, tattered robes. Their hoods obscur

Zach growled, his vo

berate. When she spoke, her voice was like silk laced with poison

owed. "You have

eveal sharp, angular features and piercing green eyes. "Lyorine Josephine is ours. She was a

y, his presence radiating an unspoken challenge. "You can tell Kaeli

bold for a man who can't

but he didn't rise to

't understand, do you? This isn't a request. This is a warning. You're meddling in

spine as she watched from the shadows. She could feel the tension in the air, t

ore stepping back. "You've made your choice,"

shimmered, and they disappeared into the night, leav

*

ontained rage. He turned, only to find Lyorine standing in th

n the room," Zach sai

ack. She took a step closer to him, her frustration evident in ev

flatly, brushing past her toward t

orine's voice was steady, but Zach could hea

ht he wasn't going to answer. Then he turned slowly,

r like a punch t

ice softened slightly, but his expression remained guarded

"That doesn't make sense. I don't even

. "All they care about is your power. And trust me, t

at the thought. "W

rse than she could have imagined. "The kind that could destroy

*

ing. She had always known there was something different about her, something that set

r once, he didn't know what to say. He had spent years facing danger, ma

suddenly, breaking the silence. "If they're coming

sion unreadable. "And what if

ion. "I don't care. I can't keep running from

ght. But the thought of her walking into danger, of losing her to th

eps interrupted them. Marcus appeared in the

ach asked, hi

other. "The witches aren't the only ones after her. Ama

, his fists clenchin

admitted. "But if she's w

said suddenly, her voice firm. Both Zac

re?" Marcus asked, hi

re tonight," Lyorine replied. "They wouldn't need to. Amara'

e turned to Lyorine, his expression serious. "We need to figur

what lay ahead, but one thing was certain: her past was

, her voice steady despite t

aw tightening. "We find Kae

hanging heavy in the air. For a moment, none of them spok

the silence. "And i

ther, his expression cold and