Chapter 25 – The Blood Moon Omen

The howl lingered in the air long after it faded, like an unspoken promise. Aurelia stood unmoving on the balcony, the black feather clenched in her trembling hand. Her heart thundered with something primal. Something she couldn't name.

Tessa appeared behind her, silent as a whisper.

"They've sensed it," Tessa murmured, eyes scanning the darkened forest. "The change. The mark."

"What change?" Aurelia asked, voice tight.

"You, Ori. You're no longer just the Duke's daughter. You carry more than blood now—you carry prophecy."

Aurelia turned, mouth opening to demand answers, but footsteps echoed in the hall.

Rowan.

"Get dressed. Now."

"What's happening?" she asked.

Lucien appeared beside him, already armed.

"The Blood Moon," Lucien said. "It's early. Weeks too early. Something—or someone—has awakened it."

Rowan's jaw was rigid. "It means bloodshed. It always does."

Tessa moved swiftly, helping Aurelia into a silver cloak lined with protective runes. "Stay close to me. Don't speak unless you must."

The Nightbloom estate erupted into chaos as the blood-hued moon rose. Servants whispered old tales of omens, of cursed unions and beastly awakenings.

Aurelia was ushered to the grand hall where her father waited, clad in armor blacker than midnight.

"You'll not leave my side tonight, Ori," he said. "No matter who calls you. Not Riven. Not Caelum. Not even the gods."

Aurelia nodded, though something within her burned to disobey.

Deep in the Vale…

Caelum stood barefoot in a circle of ancient stones. He tilted his head, eyes glowing with violet light.

"She's on the edge," he murmured. "So close to remembering."

A familiar voice answered him from the darkness.

"Then push her."

Out of the mist stepped a girl dressed in black leather, eyes silver as ice—

The new arrival.

Name: Seraphine Vale – Mireya's half-sister. Hidden in the shadows by her mother, trained in forbidden magics. Cold. Calculated. Dangerous.

"You're late," Caelum said without looking.

"You're impatient," Seraphine replied. "But if you want her power fully awakened, she'll need more than a kiss or a whisper."

"She'll need a death."

Back at the estate, Mireya Vale slammed a book shut, eyes wide.

"Seraphine's here," she hissed. "Damn her."

She stormed into her private chamber and threw open a velvet chest, pulling out a dagger with an emerald hilt.

"If someone dies tonight," she whispered, "it won't be me."

As the Nightbloom family stood under the open sky, the moon turned fully crimson. A scream echoed in the distance.

Aurelia felt it like a blade to the chest.

Rowan moved first. "Stay here!"

But she didn't. Couldn't.

She ran.

Into the woods. Into the dark.

Toward the howl that called her name.

Behind her, Lucien cursed and followed. Rowan not far behind.

From the trees, a flash of silver.

Riven.

"You shouldn't be here, princess," he said, emerging from the shadows. Blood glinted on his collar.

"You think I had a choice?"

But before she could reach him—

A figure dropped between them.

Caelum.

Aurelia gasped.

And behind him… another girl stepped into view.

Seraphine.

"Welcome to the hunt, little wolf," Seraphine said with a twisted smile.

"Let's see what you're really made of."

End of Chapter 25