The sky above alley swam with streaks of red, but in the wind something was amiss. It wasn't a peaceful sunrise. It was the sort of morning which suggested ancient things stirring, of footfalls that didn't belong on this earth.
She hadn't seen the change at first, she'd felt it. The Onyx wolf within her stirred, stretched as if waking from a deep sleep. But this time, it didn't try to seize control. It simply listened. Waited.
They were headed to a place most famous in whispers — the Hollow. Because it was a name used in stories to scare children, but the further they traveled within it, the more Serena could see this entire place was more than some legend. It was a warning that had gone unheeded for a long time.
Lucian walked beside her, sword across his back, eyes attentive, lips taut. He had not talked much since the last fight, but his presence was solid. Strong. An in silence promise she could trust.
