Volume 2 — Chapter 2: The Hunt Begins
The palace no longer felt safe. Even the grand halls seemed tainted by whispers and suspicion. Every glance from a guard, every murmur in the corridors, reminded Lyriana that the council's wrath was far from spent.
Aryn paced beside her in the hidden chambers they had claimed after escaping the Forest of Whispers. His sigil glowed faintly in the dim light, a constant reminder of the power they now carried—and the danger it invited.
"They're searching for us," he said grimly. "Not just the council, but other factions within the empire. There are those who would see the prophecy destroyed… or twisted to serve their ambitions."
Lyriana tightened her grip on his arm. "Then we leave. We can't hide in Arvandor forever. If we move now, we might have a chance to gather allies before they surround us."
Aryn's eyes softened as he looked at her. "And if they catch us?"
"We survive," she said firmly. "We survive together."
They slipped through secret passages, avoiding the main gates and patrols, and emerged near the outskirts of the city. Beyond the walls, the horizon was tinged with an unnatural violet light—the same energy that had erupted in the Forest of Whispers.
Lyriana shivered. "That light… it's connected to the prophecy, isn't it?"
Aryn nodded. "The Moonlit Throne's power doesn't end with us. It has its own will. We've awakened something ancient—something that even the council fears."
As they moved into the shadowed countryside, distant drums and horns echoed across the fields. Scouts of the council were already in motion, seeking them out.
Lyriana's heart raced. "We can't fight them head-on," she said. "We need allies. And we need to understand the forces we've awakened. Magic like this… it's not just dangerous—it's unpredictable."
Aryn glanced at her, his eyes intense. "Then we find the others who still believe in the prophecy. Those who understand it, not fear it. We'll need strategy… and trust. And Lyriana…"
"Yes?"
He brushed a strand of hair from her face. "We'll need to rely on each other more than ever. Nothing can stop what we've started… except ourselves."
The wind carried the scent of the wilds and a whisper of danger. Ahead lay forests older than the empire, ruins filled with secrets, and the first real test of their forbidden bond.
As Lyriana took a deep breath, she realized that survival was no longer enough. They had to fight, uncover the truth, and protect each other—or lose everything, including themselves, to the shadows of the throne.