CHAPTER 3 - THE AMBUSH

The Silverwood blurred beneath Lyriana's feet as she ran , her pack thundering behind her in a formation as tight as a heartbeat. Moonlight filtered through the trees in sharp, silver beams, catching on fur,armor, and drawn blades.

They moved like a single creature - silent, swift, deadly.

Rhydan ran at her side, breath steady despite the pace." Scouts said the vampires crossed the border an hour ago."

Lyriana's jaw tightened." Then we're already late."

The sigil on her chest pulsed again - a sharp, electric sting that made her stumble for half a second.

Rhydan caught her elbow." Lyriana-"

"I'm fine," she snapped, pulling away.

But she wasn't.

The pulse wasn't random.

It wasn't pain.

It was a signal.

A pull.

She could feel him - faint, distant, but unmistakable. A cold presence brushing against her mind like a shadow passing over the moon.

Kaelith

The Bond thrummed, tightening with every step she took toward the border.

Rhydan noticed her distraction." If he's connected to you,we should turn back.We don't know what this bond can do ."

Lyriana's eyes flashed gold." That's exactly why I need to find him."

Before Rhydan could argue,a howl split the night - sharp, panicked,cut short.

The pack skidded to a halt.

Lyriana raised a hand."positions."

Wolves shifted into human form, claws out, ears twitching. The forest had gone unnaturally still. No wind. No insects and Sound.

Rhydan sniffed the air." Blood".

Lyriana's heart dropped." where?"

He pointed ahead." Everywhere."

They moved forward cautiously, weaving between the trees until they reached a clearing.

And froze.

Bodies lay scattered across the ground - wolves and vampires alike. Some burned. Some torn apart.Some drained of blood.

Lyriana's breath caught." This wasn't a battle."

Rhydan crouched beside a corpse." This was a slaughter."

Lyriana knelt, touching the ground. The earth was scorched in a perfect circle, as if lightning had struck - but the burn pattern was wrong. Too controlled.Too precise.

Magic.

Old Magic.

Her sigil pulsed violently.

Lyriana hissed, clutching her chest." He's close."

Rhydan's eyes widened." Kaelith?"

"No," Lyriana whispered." Something else."

A twig snapped.

The pack spun, weapons raised.

A figure stumbled out of the trees - a young wolf scout, blood soaking his side. He collapsed at Lyriana's feet.

" Your Majesty..." he gasped." It wasn't the vampires.."

Lyriana knelt beside him." who did this ?"

The scout's eyes widened with terror." A shadow. A monster. It came from the sky. It - "

His body convulsed.

Lyriana grabbed his shoulders." Stay with me!"

But the scout's eyes rolled back, and he went still.

Rhydan cursed under his breath." What kind of monster kills both wolves and vampires?"

Lyriana rose slowly, scanning the treeline." The kind doesn't care about kingdoms."

A cold wind swept through the clearing.

The sigil on her chest burned.

Rhydan stiffened." Lyriana... something's coming."

The shadows between the trees shifted.

Moved.

Gathered.

Lyriana Drew her blades." Positions!"

The pack formed a circle around her .

The Shadows thickened - then exploded outward as a massive creature lunged into the clearing.

It wasn't wolf.

It wasn't vampire.

It wasn't anything she had ever seen.

A twisted mass of bone and darkness, eyes glowing like dying stars.

Rhydan shouted," what in the moon's name - "

The creature roared, the sound shaking the ground.

Lyriana didn't hesitate.

She charged.

Her blades slashed through the creature's shadowy flesh, moon fire sparking on impact. The monster shrieked, recoiling - but not enough.

It struck back with a tendril of darkness that slammed into her chest, throwing her across the clearing.

"LYRIANA!"

Rhydan lunged toward her, but the creature blocked him with a wall of shadow.

Lyriana pushed herself up, vision spinning. The sigil on her chest pulsed wildly - not in pain, but in warning.

The creature lunged again.

Lyriana braced herself -

But the attack never landed.

A blast of black fire tore through the clearing, slamming into the creature and sending it crashing into the trees.

Lyriana froze.

That magic -

That cold ancient power -

She knew it.

A figure stepped out of the shadows.

Tall.

Silent.

Silver - eyed.

Kaelith Varyn.

The Night Sovereign.

He looked at her - not with hatred, not with surprise, but with the grin recognition of someone who had been dragged into the same nightmare.

"Moon - Queen," he said quietly.

Lyriana's heart pounded.

" Night Sovereign."

The Bond pulsed between them - sharp, electric, alive.

The creature rose again, shrieking.

Kaelith's eyes narrowed." we can fight later."

Lyriana lifted her blades." agreed."

They turned toward the monster.

Enemies.

Bound.

Forced into alliance by something older than war.

The ambush had begun.

And destiny had arrived.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***