Chapter 9 Beneath the Surface

Rowan's POV

I was hit with a sudden, sharp thought:. _Run!_ My gut screamed at me, a raw, urgent feeling, but I was stuck. Elaria had me pinned, her boot digging into my chest against the cold, wet earth. Plus, the shadows all around us were moving in, closing like something alive and hungry.

I sucked in a breath, tasting dirt and something like electricity in the air-that weird, metallic smell of magic. My wolf was going nuts, growling deep down, wanting me to fight. But I had to keep it down. This was not that kind of fight. This was way worse.

Elaria stared down at me, her amber eyes-eyes I used to know-all clouded over. She pressed down harder with her foot, and a grunt escaped me.

You shouldn't have come back, Rowan, she said softly. Her quiet voice just made those words sting even more.

For just a second, I thought I saw something in her face... doubt? It was gone so fast, I almost didn't catch it. Almost.

Elaria, I croaked, my voice rough. I swallowed hard and tried again. This isn't you.

Her eyes narrowed, and that flicker of _something_ vanished, like a bad dream disappearing with the sun. Now there was nothing on her face. You don't know me anymore.

I used to. I knew the girl who laughed under the moon, the one who wanted to guide the people by guiding with everything she has, her heart and soul. That girl who used to whisper my name like it meant the world. But the woman standing over me now? She was totally different, totally distant.

I know you better than you think, I managed, my voice getting a little stronger. And I know you don't want to do this.

She gave a short, bitter laugh. What _I_ want doesn't count anymore.

She took her foot off my chest, but before I could do anything, she grabbed my shirt and yanked me up. I barely had time to steady myself before she shoved me backward, right into the arms of those shadows behind me.

Hands-too many of them-grabbed at my arms, my shoulders, my neck. They were freezing, the cold sinking into my skin, making everything numb. My vision started to blur, the world tilting sideways.

_No. Not like this._

I clenched my fists, pulling every bit of strength I had left, and yanked myself free. Right as I moved, something like an earthquake coursed through the air, that sharp feeling like a thunder that is about to break .

Elaria's expression changed again-a flicker of shock, maybe recognition-but she still didn't back down.

Instead, she lifted her hand.

Some unseen force slammed into me, throwing me down to my knees. I choked, my whole body tensing as crazy pain shot through me. It felt like I was being torn apart, with every single bone straining.

Elaria stepped closer, looming over me. You weren't supposed to return.

I didn't have a choice, I gasped. There's something coming, Elaria. Something worse than either of us.

For the first time, real doubt crossed her face. What are you even talking about?

I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to move even though I was pinned down. The people who disappeared, the weird symbols. You think this is just some random thing? It's not random. Something old is waking up. And if we don't stop it...

The air all around us started shaking. A low, animal growl echoed through the clearing, making the ground vibrate under us.

Elaria snapped her head up, her whole body going stiff. The shadows around us stirred, those glowing eyes of theirs flickering faster. Something was out there, and it was ready to show itself.

A shape pulled itself out of the darkness, too big, just wrong. It moved jerky, like the world couldn't contain it. My stomach twisted, and every raw and basic instinct in my body started screaming.

Elaria took a step back, her breath catching. For the first time since she'd shown up, she looked unsure, with her eyes wider than normal.

What the hell is that? she whispered.

I had no idea. And that scared me more than anything.

The thing tilted its head, moving strange and slow. Then, without any warning, it jumped.

Elaria reacted fast, throwing her hands up, a blast of power erupting. The force hit the creature hard, knocking it back-but not stopping it. It was back on its feet almost instantly, its weird limbs twisting as it let out another growl, deep and guttural.

I forced myself up, every muscle screaming. Whatever this was, it wasn't going to stop on its own. And if we didn't stop it, we were toast.

Elaria, I said, my voice urgent, We need to work together.

She gave me a look that could burn holes in steel, but I saw it in her eyes, that tiny bit of worry there.

Another jump. Another blast of power. This time, it barely slowed the thing.

Elaria was breathing hard, her chest moving fast and shallow. She was crazy powerful, but this thing was stronger.

I grabbed her arm before she could attack again. Listen to me! This isn't about us anymore. If we don't stop it right now, we're dead.

She pulled her arm back but didn't argue, didn't even say anything this time.

That was enough for me.

The creature came again, its huge body blocking out the moon as it moved directly for us. But this time, we were ready.

I moved first, grabbing the energy inside me, letting it flow. The ground under us cracked, lines of raw power shooting toward the creature. At the same time, Elaria raised her hands, her power building, hot and bright.

We hit it together.

The clearing blew up with light and sound, the force of our combined hit slamming into the thing with so much power it shook the ground.

For a moment, that's all there was, only bright, white light. Then, quiet.

When the light faded away, the creature was gone.

Only whispers hung in the air, swirling all around us.

They had been ready for us.