The words echoed through the underground chamber.
"Hello, sister."
Ivy stood completely still.
Jake stared through the small window, his expression unreadable.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
The silver eyes disappeared.
Then—
BOOM!
The underground door shook violently.
Jayden pulled Xander behind him.
"Everyone stay back."
Another impact.
The ancient walls trembled.
Jake stepped forward, his eyes flashing silver.
"I've spent my entire life believing I was the only one left."
The door cracked.
"But apparently I was wrong."
Ivy placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Then we'll find out the truth together."
The door burst open.
Smoke poured into the chamber.
A figure stepped through.
He was young—perhaps a little older than Ivy. Dark hair fell across his forehead, and his silver eyes glowed faintly in the darkness.
He wore a black coat marked with the same crescent-and-claw symbol.
Jake stared at him.
The stranger stared back.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then the stranger whispered,
"Jake."
Jake's face changed.
"You know my name."
The stranger gave a sad smile.
"Of course I do."
He looked at Ivy.
"And I know yours too."
Ivy tightened her grip on Xander's hand.
"Who are you?"
The stranger hesitated.
"My name is Kael."
Jake shook his head.
"That name isn't in our family records."
"Because I was erased."
The room went silent.
Kael stepped closer.
"Our father didn't abandon me."
He looked at Jake.
"He was forced to give me away."
Jake's voice became quieter.
"Why?"
Kael looked toward the ceiling.
"Because someone wanted the three Keepers separated."
Ivy's eyes narrowed.
"Malthor."
Kael nodded.
"He knew that together, we could restore the First Seal."
Jayden frowned.
"Then why would he let you come here?"
Kael's expression darkened.
"He didn't."
A strange silence followed.
"What do you mean?" Ivy asked.
Kael looked at his hands.
"I escaped."
---
The Attack Above
A deafening howl shook the chamber.
Kael immediately looked toward the ceiling.
"They've found you."
Jake's wolf growled.
"Who?"
"Shadow wolves."
Jayden stepped forward.
"How many?"
Kael's expression became serious.
"Enough to overwhelm the outer guards."
Ivy looked at Xander.
"We need to get him somewhere safe."
Kael shook his head.
"There's nowhere safe."
Ivy glared at him.
"Then we'll make somewhere safe."
For the first time, Kael smiled.
"You really are Elira's daughter."
Ivy froze.
"You knew my mother?"
"I remember her."
His voice softened.
"She saved my life once."
Jake stared at him.
"Then why didn't you come back?"
Kael looked away.
"Because I was afraid I'd lead them straight to you."
Jake's expression softened.
"You could have found me."
"I tried."
Kael reached inside his coat and pulled out an old silver chain.
Attached to it was a small pendant.
The same symbol as Ivy's.
Jake's breath caught.
"Our family."
Kael nodded.
"I kept it because it was the only thing I had left."
---
The First Seal
Suddenly, Ivy's pendant began glowing.
Kael's pendant responded.
Jake's did too.
Three lights filled the chamber.
Purple.
Silver.
Gold.
The ancient symbols on the walls began moving.
Ivy stepped backward.
"What is happening?"
Kael looked frightened for the first time.
"The First Seal is calling us."
A giant symbol appeared on the floor.
Three circles.
Three positions.
Three Keepers.
Ivy understood.
"We have to stand there."
Jake nodded.
The three siblings moved into position.
The moment they did, a powerful wave of energy swept through the chamber.
Ivy felt memories that weren't hers.
She saw their parents standing together.
She saw the night the family was attacked.
She saw Jake being carried away.
She saw Kael being taken.
And finally—
She saw herself.
A little girl hiding beneath the roots of a tree.
Her mother kneeling before her.
"No matter what happens, Ivora, remember this."
Young Ivy looked up.
"What?"
Her mother touched her forehead.
"You are not the weapon."
The memory changed.
"You are the key to ending the war."
Ivy gasped.
The vision disappeared.
---
Above Ground
Jayden suddenly heard Xander's voice.
"Daddy?"
He turned.
Xander was staring toward the stairs.
"I hear them."
Jayden frowned.
"Hear who?"
"The shadows."
Jayden's expression hardened.
He picked Xander up.
"Stay with me."
They began moving toward the exit.
Then a shadow appeared at the top of the stairs.
Jayden stopped.
The figure smiled.
"Hello, Jayden."
Jayden's eyes narrowed.
"Who are you?"
The stranger stepped into the light.
James.
Jayden's jaw tightened.
"James?"
James looked different.
The silver ring around his pupils had grown brighter.
"I didn't want this."
Jayden lowered his voice.
"Then don't do it."
James looked at Xander.
"I can't."
"Why?"
James swallowed.
"Because they're controlling me."
A dark mark appeared across his wrist.
Jayden stared.
"Who?"
James whispered,
"Malthor."
---
Back Below
The ritual ended.
Ivy dropped to her knees, exhausted.
Jake caught her.
Kael looked toward the ceiling.
"We're too late."
A crack appeared across the chamber wall.
Dark energy seeped through it.
Ivy slowly stood.
"He's coming."
Jake nodded.
Kael looked at his siblings.
"For twelve years, we've been separated."
He clenched his fists.
"That ends tonight."
Ivy looked at him.
"You're staying?"
Kael gave her a faint smile.
"I'm not losing my family twice."
Jake placed a hand on Kael's shoulder.
"Then let's protect our sister."
Ivy smiled.
"And our family."
Above them, another explosion shook the pack house.
The war had arrived.
And for the first time in twelve years...
The three Keepers stood together.