Chapter 5 5

Scene 1:Kael's private war chamber – under the Temple of Stone]

The air was heavy with age, an archaic smell. Dust hovered in the shafts of moonlight that was shining through the stone lattice. Ancient scrolls which were unrolled were placed across the long obsidian table. Elder Maelin's fingers were ink-stained and calloused. It hovered over a particular parchment.

Kael paced behind him, his frustration flaring. "We are chasing echoes, half-truths and myths. This... Moonfire Rite, even if it is real, what does it prove?"

Maelin did not look up. "That fire could have been more than destruction. That love, when it is bound through flame, may bend time itself."

Kael scoffed. "And it will drive wolves to madness? That part was conveniently left out of every fireside tale."

Maelin finally turned to look at him, his gray eyes were sharp. Because the truth was too dangerous. The Moonfire Rite was used once, Kael. Once. And it nearly tore the realm apart."

Kael crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing. "Why would Liora, Aeryn risk it?

Maelin raised a brow. "Perhaps she knew that she would not have a choice."

Kael stood.

Maelin gently placed a scroll in front of him. "This account comes from the Dawnsinger Codex, It was written before the Hollow fell. It describes a bond that was so strong, the wolf's soul chooses rebirth. But only if the mate survives, or if the tether remains."

Kael's jaw tensed. "That would mean..."

Maelin gave a sad smile. "She returned... because you never let go."

Silence crackled like it was a flint between them. Kael stepped closer to the scroll to start scanning its faded script. "But why now? Why are her memories in fragments? Why... Riven?"

Maelin hesitated. "There is more which you must know. The rite requires a sacrifice which fire can not give unless it first takes."

Kael's voice dropped. "What kind of sacrifice are you talking about?"

Maelin looked away.

Kael stepped in front of him. "Maelin. What did she give?"

The old wolf's voice was brittle. "Her soul... fragmented, her lineage... erased, and the mate mark severed by force."

Kael's hands were curled into fists.

Maelin added, "If the rite failed, her mind might never fully return. And if she remembers the pain of the fire... the madness could come back to hunt her."

Kael stared at the flame burning in the brazier. "She said she would rather burn and return... than let me be hollow."

Maelin's breath caught. "Does she remember that?"

Kael did not answer that before he moved away. As Maelin looked up towards him, he was already halfway up the stairs.

Scene 2:Ruins of the Old Den, Just past midnight

Aeryn had no idea what drew her here, but she knew it was a mighty pull.

The moon hung low. It was covered in silver, casting pale light over the crumbling stone walls. Ivy had begun to reclaim the space. It was creeping over the broken hearth, and it had entered the remains of a wooden bedframe that was shattered.

She stepped across the threshold, her fingers trailing along the stone. Something prompted her to come here at that moment. Actually, it was not in words, but in whispers which were under her skin.

Her palm brushed a carved rune that was near the center wall.

Pain. Light.

The world spun around at that moment.

In the vision...

Firelights were dancing on the stone walls, while voices were raised in anger.

"You lied to me, Kael!" she shouted. Liora's voice was at that moment in her own mouth.

Kael turned to face her. His eyes were wild, torn apart, "I had no choice. The traitor would have killed the Council..."

"You were the traitor's brother!" she hissed. "Why did you let him stay, why did you let him twist our pack?"

Kael's shoulders dropped. "I thought I could fix it." I thought I could bring Riven back.

"No. You let him betray us. And I saw what he did."

Kael paled. "Liora..."

"I don't fear fire," she whispered, stepping close. What I fear most is losing you.

Kael reached for her. "Then stand. Don't you do this."

She pressed her palm into his chest. "If the flames take me, let them. But you promised me the moon."

Kael's hand closed over hers. "Then I will burn the sky to bring you back."

Back in the present...

Aeryn gasped.

Her knees buckled as the vision released her. The air snapped back at her as if it was a whip, and she stumbled against the rune-covered wall.

Flames were dancing along her palms. They were bright, gold and red.

She tried to breathe, but her lungs refused to obey.

"Kael..." she whispered, barely conscious.

Her fingers were trembling at that instant, on her right palm, beneath a layer of searing heat and light, something glowed through the skin.

It was not a burn nor was it a scar. It was a mark.

Half-finished, but it was unmistakable the shape of a crescent moon that is entwined with a flame.

The Mate Mark.

But it was not fresh. It was old, charred. Broken.

Kael's voice pierced the night.

"Aeryn!"

She barely recognized the crunch of boots that thumped hard on stone before strong arms caught her. Kael held her up, his heartbeat was wild beneath his shirt.

Her eyes fluttered open.

"Kael..."

"I am here," he breathed.

Aeryn's hand lifted, but it was a weak attempt as she touched his chest.

"You... you promised me the moon."

Kael's entire body went still, his lips parted out of recollection.

And at that moment, he remembered.

The vow. The fire. Her last scream as the flames took her.

Before she collapsed into unconsciousness, Aeryn whispered one more name:

"...Riven."

Kael's heart stopped beating when he heard her mention his brother's name, spoken like it was a curse.

He looked down at her palm as the moonlight revealed the half-burned mark.

His hand covered hers gently.

And in the shattered silence of the ruined den, Kael realized the unthinkable:

Riven had not just vanished.

He had broken the mate bond himself.

And somehow... he had lived through it.

Just outside the ruins was a dark silhouette who watched from the tree line.

Had silver hair.

Eyes were like frost.

And there was a jagged dagger which was strapped to his back, still stained with ashes.