Chapter 2 Shadows of the Thorn

The city never truly slept, but at midnight, Belladonna held its breath-waiting for something to break the silence.

Silvano slipped through the shadows like a predator, the name Lysandra burning in his mind. A seer born once every thousand years, she was the key-and a threat. He needed to find her before others did.

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Lysandra ran through Blackroot Forest, branches clawing at her white cloak. The howl echoed again-a sound that wasn't animal, but something far worse, something born from nightmares.

Her breath hitched. She pressed the crescent pendant to her chest, feeling its warmth flare like a heartbeat.

Then, through the mist, she saw him.

Tall. Dangerous. Eyes like molten ruby cutting through the darkness.

Silvano.

The world stilled.

Her heart shattered and rebuilt itself in that instant-a fierce, uncontrollable longing that left her breathless. His scarred face, the smoke curling from his cigar, the dangerous confidence he wore like armor-it pulled at something ancient inside her.

Before she could think, he was at her side, voice low and fierce.

"You're in danger," he said, his crimson gaze locking with hers, blazing with unspoken promises. "And I won't let anything harm you."

She wanted to ask who he was, what he wanted-but the growl behind them froze her blood.

Shadowed beasts tore through the trees, their eyes burning with hunger.

Silvano drew his dagger, the blade gleaming with arcane light.

"Stay close," he ordered, stepping between her and the oncoming nightmare.

Lysandra's heart pounded-not from fear, but from the wild, electric connection binding her to the dangerous man who had appeared out of nowhere.

As the creatures lunged, Silvano moved like a shadow made of fire, cutting through darkness and terror-and Lysandra knew one thing with terrifying clarity:

This man with the raven's curse and blood like wildfire was her fate.

And she was his.