Mira’s idea of training was simple.

“Make the seal open.”

Elara stared at her.

They stood in a circular stone chamber beneath the archive, its walls carved with old lunar symbols and exactly one narrow window high above.

Kael stood near the door.

Rhys had

The first body lay outside the archive door.

Royal Guard.

Alive.

Barely.

Elara dropped beside him.

“Poison?”

The guard shook his head weakly.

“Hit... from behind.”

Kael looked down the corridor.

Empty.

Too empty.

Joren came running from the upper sta

Kael found Elara on the west balcony after midnight.

She knew he was there before he spoke.

Astra knew because Orion did.

Annoying bond.

Useful too.

Elara kept looking over the valley.

“You should be sleeping.”

Kael leaned against the stone railing sever