Chapter Nine: Shadows of the Past

The journey back to Auria territory was tense. Though the fight with Selene had ended, Seraphina couldn't shake the feeling that they were being followed. The forest felt darker than before, the air heavier, as if the shadows themselves were alive.

Damian moved beside her, his steps purposeful and silent. The tension in his posture was unmistakable, his amber eyes scanning their surroundings with the precision of someone who had spent his life in hostile territory.

"Do you think she'll come after us again?" Seraphina asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"She will," Damian replied. "But not immediately. Selene's cunning; she'll regroup, gather her strength, and wait for the right moment to strike."

"That's… comforting," Seraphina muttered.

He glanced at her, a faint smirk tugging at his lips despite the gravity of the situation. "You're still standing. That's something."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. "Barely."

As they crossed the river back into Auria territory, the oppressive weight of Noctis magic lifted, replaced by the lighter, more familiar energy of her own people. But even here, Seraphina felt uneasy. Selene's parting words echoed in her mind, and the shard in her hand pulsed faintly, as if resonating with her unease.

When they reached the Auria stronghold, Seraphina was surprised to find the gates open and the courtyard bustling with activity. Witches moved back and forth, their expressions tense as they prepared for what looked like a defensive stand.

"What's going on?" Seraphina asked, stopping one of the witches as they passed.

"The council's called an emergency meeting," the witch replied, her voice tight with worry. "They're saying Noctis witches have been spotted near the border."

Seraphina's stomach dropped. "How many?"

"A dozen, maybe more. They haven't attacked yet, but…" The witch trailed off, her eyes darting nervously to the gates.

"Thank you," Seraphina said, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her.

She turned to Damian, whose expression had darkened. "This isn't a coincidence."

"No," he agreed. "Selene's testing your people. She wants to see how they'll react."

"Then we have to warn the council," Seraphina said, already heading toward the main hall.

Damian hesitated, his gaze lingering on the gates. "You go ahead. I'll keep watch out here."

Seraphina nodded, understanding the unspoken concern in his voice. Damian's presence in Auria territory was tolerated, but barely. His reputation as a Noctis defector made him a target of suspicion, and the last thing they needed was a confrontation within their own ranks.

Inside the council chamber, the tension was palpable. The room was filled with high-ranking witches, their voices rising in heated debate as they argued over the best course of action.

Seraphina pushed her way to the front, clutching the shard tightly as she addressed the council. "Selene is behind this. She attacked us in Noctis territory and sent her witches to test our defenses. If we don't act, she'll strike again."

The room fell silent, all eyes turning to her.

"Do you have proof of this claim?" asked Lysandra, one of the senior council members, her tone sharp.

Seraphina held up the shard. "This is proof enough. We recovered it from the Noctis council crypt, and Selene tried to take it from us. She won't stop until she has all the shards."

Murmurs rippled through the room, the witches exchanging uneasy glances.

"And who is this 'us' you speak of?" Lysandra continued, her eyes narrowing. "Is Damian D'Arco involved in this?"

Seraphina straightened her spine, refusing to let Lysandra's disdainful tone unnerve her. "Damian saved my life. Without him, this shard would still be in Selene's hands. Whatever you think of him, he's on our side."

The murmurs grew louder, some of the witches nodding in agreement while others looked skeptical.

Lysandra's lips pressed into a thin line. "Damian D'Arco is a traitor to his people. How do we know he won't betray us the moment it suits him?"

"Because he has more to lose than any of us," Seraphina said, her voice firm. "He left his coven, his family, everything he's ever known to fight against Selene. If that's not proof of his loyalty, I don't know what is."

For a moment, the room was silent. Then another council member, a man named Alaric, spoke up.

"Seraphina's right. We can't afford to turn away allies, especially not now. If Selene is truly behind this, we need every advantage we can get."

Lysandra scowled but didn't argue further.

As the council debated their next steps, Seraphina slipped out of the chamber, her mind racing. She found Damian near the gates, his posture tense as he watched the horizon.

"Well?" he asked without turning.

"They're preparing for an attack," she said. "But they're still divided. Some of them don't trust you."

"Shocking," Damian said dryly.

Seraphina sighed, leaning against the gate beside him. "It doesn't matter what they think. I trust you."

Damian glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "You shouldn't."

"Why not?"

He hesitated, his gaze returning to the horizon. "Because trust is dangerous. Especially in this war."

Seraphina frowned, her chest tightening at the weight of his words. "If we don't trust each other, we've already lost."

Damian didn't respond, but the flicker of doubt in his eyes was enough to make her wonder what secrets he was still hiding.

As night fell, the air grew colder, and the tension in the stronghold thickened. Seraphina couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming, something far worse than a simple border skirmish.

And as she stood beside Damian, the shard in her hand pulsing faintly like a heartbeat, she knew their fight was far from over.