A heavy silence settled over the chamber, thick with unspoken words. The glow of the blood ritual still pulsed faintly from the ancient sigils, but the moment of revelation was interrupted by a sharp voice.
"That's enough," the man said, stepping forward from the shadows. His presence alone commanded attention.
He was tall, with dark auburn hair tied at the nape of his neck and piercing green eyes that burned with something between determination and fury. His posture was rigid, his gaze scanning the room before locking onto Noelle with an intensity that made her stomach clench.
"This woman is not the Luna Queen."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd, disbelief and confusion spreading like wildfire. Elder Celeste narrowed her eyes, taking a step toward him. "Noah," she said, her voice a mix of recognition and warning. "You dare challenge the ritual's findings?"