Chapter 23 – The Black Feather's Whisper

From the highest tower of the Nightbloom estate, a shadow stood unmoving against the broken moonlight. His silver eyes gleamed beneath the hood of a raven-black cloak. He did not knock. He did not call.

He simply watched.

Caelum Vire.

His presence was cold yet magnetic—as if the wind itself parted to allow his breath to echo deeper through the estate. A single black feather tumbled from his gloved fingers, spinning through the air like a curse. It was not left by accident.

It was a warning.

Aurelia sat on the edge of her bed, the kiss still burning on her lips. Riven's touch lingered like fire under her skin, but her heart beat with confusion—and something far darker than she wanted to admit.

He had said she belonged to him.

But why did Caelum haunt her dreams?

Her door creaked open without warning. Tessa entered, eyes darting immediately to Aurelia's face. "He kissed you."

Aurelia looked up in surprise. "How did you know?"

Tessa gave a half-smile. "Because I felt it. Something shifted in this house. The very walls trembled. You're becoming dangerous, Ori."

"I don't want to be dangerous," Aurelia whispered.

"Too late for that, little wolf. You were born dangerous."

Before Aurelia could reply, a loud crack of thunder boomed from the hall.

Lucien burst in, followed closely by Rowan. Both wore expressions carved from ice and rage.

"He left," Rowan said tightly.

"Riven?" Aurelia asked, rising to her feet.

Lucien shook his head. "Caelum. He was here. Watching."

The Duke entered seconds later, his cloak half-thrown on and sword at his hip. "The south winds brought him."

"He left this," Lucien said, tossing something onto the bed.

Aurelia stared at the black feather. Her breath caught.

Suddenly, her skin felt too tight. Her blood too hot.

She turned to her father. "What does it mean?"

The Duke's eyes narrowed. "It means you're not safe."

"I never was," she muttered.

Later that night...

Aurelia walked the hallways alone. She couldn't sleep. Not with Riven's taste still on her lips and Caelum's feather curled against her pillow.

She passed the window overlooking the back gardens.

And she saw him.

He stood beneath the moonlight, as if carved from shadows. He didn't move. Didn't wave.

He simply looked at her.

She shouldn't go to him.

But she did.

Aurelia stepped barefoot through the cold grass until she was only a few feet away. "Why did you come?"

Caelum tilted his head. "Because you were missing me."

Her heart skipped. "You're not supposed to be here."

"Neither are you. But here we are. Rea."

That name.

Only he called her that. And somehow, it always fit better than her real one.

"What do you want from me?"

"Nothing. And everything."

She shivered. Not from the cold. From him.

"You left me a feather," she said.

He stepped closer. "I left you a key. To the memories you've buried."

"What memories?"

Caelum leaned in, close enough to touch, but never did. "Of who you were. Who you are."

Her breath came in shallow bursts. "Tell me."

"No. Not yet. If I do, you'll break."

She looked into his eyes, silver and endless. "And if I want to break?"

"Then I'll be the one to catch every shattered piece," he murmured.

Silence fell between them like a held breath.

Then, without touching her, he whispered against her lips, "But not tonight. Tonight, I only wanted to remind you: You were never his."

And with that, he vanished into the mist.

Back in her chambers, Aurelia clutched the black feather to her chest, the fire within her no longer asleep.

Somewhere in the shadows of her soul, the wolf stirred.

And smiled.

End of Chapter 23