Chapter 13

Eira's POV

I heard the scream before I saw who made it.

Raven stumbled backward from the restricted library door, clutching something to her chest, her violet eyes wide with terror. I grabbed her arm and pulled her into the shadows of the corridor.

"Are you trying to wake the entire pack?" I whispered, pressing my finger to my lips.

"Eira!" Raven gasped, her heart beating so fast I could practically hear it. "I thought you were—"

"Someone who'd actually punish you for snooping?" I finished with a smirk. "Your luck, it's just the Alpha's troublemaking sister."

I peeked around the corner. The library remained dark, silent.

"What did you find?" I asked, nodding at the book she held like it might bite her.

Raven shook her head, her face pale as moonlight. "Not here."

We hurried through the winding corridors, ducking behind tapestries whenever footsteps approached. It reminded me of when I was a child, playing hide-and-seek with Kael before he became too serious for such things.

Once safely in my chambers, I locked the door and turned to find Raven pacing like a caged animal.

"The prophecy," she blurted out, thrusting the ancient journal toward me. "It's not what we thought. It's about blood magic. Sacrifice."

I took the book, my stomach tightening. "Slow down. What exactly did you read?"

"A Luna from my pack was sacrificed generations ago. For power." Her voice cracked. "And now the prophecy speaks of another union—me and Kael—to either bring peace or chaos."

I flipped through the yellowed pages, recognizing the old language of our ancestors. My chest grew cold as I read, memories of my mother's warnings surfacing.

"Did you know about this?" Raven demanded.

I closed the book gently. "Not exactly. My mother once spoke of old rituals, forbidden practices. But I thought they died with the ancient Alphas."

"Your council seems intent on reviving them," Raven spat. "With me as the sacrifice."

"Not all of them," I corrected, thinking of Elder Thorin's suspicious behavior earlier today. "But some... maybe."

Raven dropped onto my bed, the fight suddenly leaving her. "What am I going to do?"

"First, you're going to hide this," I said, sliding the journal under my mattress. "Second, you're going to tell me about that note you received."

She pulled the folded paper from her pocket. I read it again, pieces clicking together in my mind.

"'Beware the shadows within the Spire,'" I read aloud. "Someone's trying to warn you, Raven. Someone who knows about the prophecy."

"Or someone trying to scare me away," she countered.

I shook my head. "If they wanted you gone, why warn you? No, this person wants you prepared."

"For what? Being slaughtered under the full moon?"

"Don't be dramatic," I said, though my own nerves jangled with worry. "We need more information."

Raven stood suddenly. "I need to tell Kael."

"No!" I grabbed her wrist. "Not yet. If the council is involved, we don't know who to trust."

"I trust Kael," she insisted.

I softened. "I know you do. And so do I. But my brother... he carries burdens you don't understand. Guilt that blinds him."

"About Aeliana?"

The name hung between us like a ghost.

"Yes," I said finally. "Her death nearly destroyed him."

"What happened to her, Eira? No one will tell me."

I sighed, perching on the edge of my writing desk. "It's not my story to tell. But I will say this: Kael blames himself for something that wasn't his fault."

Raven's shoulders slumped. "More secrets."

"Give him time," I urged. "He's trying, in his own stubborn way."

A knock at my door made us both jump.

"Lady Eira?" Paul's voice called. "May I have a word?"

Raven and I exchanged panicked glances. I motioned for her to hide in my closet, waiting until she was concealed before opening the door.

"Paul," I greeted, perhaps too brightly. "What brings you to my chambers so late?"

Paul's shrewd eyes scanned my room briefly. "I was hoping to discuss a matter of security. But if you're busy..."

"Not at all." I stepped into the hallway, pulling the door shut behind me. "What kind of security matter?"

"Strange activities in the palace. Missing documents, unexplained noises." He lowered his voice. "Whispers of betrayal."

My pulse quickened. "Why come to me with this?"

"Because you see things others miss." He studied my face. "Like how you followed Elder Thorin this afternoon."

I stiffened. "You were watching me?"

"I watch everyone," he said simply. "Especially those who leave the palace without guards during times of threat."

"I'm not some helpless damsel, Paul."

"No," he agreed. "But you are the Alpha's sister, which makes you valuable. And vulnerable."

I crossed my arms. "Did you follow Thorin too?"

"As far as the temple. Then I returned to alert your brother." His eyes narrowed. "Did you see who he met with?"

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "A hooded figure. Unfamiliar, yet... there was something about their scent."

"Like what?"

"Like... family," I admitted. "But twisted, wrong somehow."

Paul's expression darkened. "I feared as much."

"What aren't you telling me?"

"Rumors," he said carefully. "That Darian has infiltrated the pack through someone close to the Alpha."

Ice slid down my spine. "Someone on the council?"

"Or someone even closer."

Before I could press further, a crash from inside my room made us both freeze. Paul's hand went to his dagger.

"Expecting company?" he asked, already reaching for the door.

"Wait," I blurted. "It's just Raven."

Paul's eyebrows shot up. "The Luna is hiding in your chambers?"

I winced. "It's complicated."

"I'm sure," he said dryly, pushing the door open.

Raven stood in the center of my room, a broken vase at her feet and a guilty expression on her face.

"Sorry," she said sheepishly. "I knocked it over trying to... um..."

"Eavesdrop?" Paul supplied, amusement flickering across his usually stern features.

"I prefer 'gathering intelligence,'" she retorted.

Paul looked between us. "Would either of you care to explain what's happening here?"

Raven and I spoke simultaneously:

"Just girl talk."

"Library research."

Paul folded his arms, unimpressed. "Try again."

I sighed, retrieving the journal from its hiding place. "Raven found this in the restricted section. It contains information about the prophecy—the real prophecy."

Paul's face grew grave as I explained what we'd discovered. When I finished, he ran a hand through his short hair.

"This complicates things," he muttered.

"Understatement of the century," I snorted.

"Does Kael know?" he asked Raven.

She shook her head. "I wanted to tell him, but..."

"But I advised against it," I finished. "Until we know who to trust."

Paul nodded slowly. "The Alpha has enough to worry about with the border threats. And if the council is involved..."

"Exactly," I agreed. "We need proof before we approach him."

"And what's your plan for getting this proof?" he challenged.

I shot him my most winning smile. "That's where you come in, dear Paul. I need access to Thorin's quarters while he's at the council meeting tomorrow."

Paul's eyes widened. "You want me to help you break into an Elder's chambers? That's treason."

"Only if we're caught," I pointed out.

"She has a point," Raven added, earning an exasperated look from Paul.

"Both of you will be the death of me," he grumbled. "Fine. But we do this carefully."

I clapped my hands. "Excellent! Operation Save-Raven-From-Being-Sacrificed is officially underway."

"That's not funny," Raven said, though her lips twitched.

"Gallows humor," I shrugged. "Family tradition."

Paul checked the time. "It's late. The Luna should return to her chambers before her absence is noticed."

"I'll escort her," I offered. "Make sure she doesn't get caught by any wandering council members."

Paul nodded. "I'll speak with Kael about increasing security without revealing what we know. For now, this stays between us."

After he left, Raven turned to me. "Thank you, Eira. For helping me."

I squeezed her hand. "What are sisters for? Besides, I've been looking for an excuse to cause trouble since I got back."

We slipped through the quiet halls, the moon casting silver light through the high windows. Just before we reached her chambers, Raven paused.

"Do you think we can trust Paul?"

I considered the question. "Paul has been loyal to Kael since they were cubs. If anyone deserves our trust, it's him."

Satisfied, Raven bid me goodnight. I watched until her door closed before making my way back to my own room, mind racing with plans for tomorrow.

Back in my chambers, I settled at my desk to write down everything I'd observed about Thorin's meeting. The hooded figure, the ancient temple, the strange familiarity of their scent. As I wrote, a chill breeze made my candle flicker.

I frowned, looking up at my window. It was open, the curtains dancing in the night air.

Had I left it open? I couldn't remember.

Rising slowly, I moved to close it, peering into the darkness outside. The moon illuminated the courtyard below, empty save for the usual guards.

Just as I reached for the latch, a shadow moved—too large to be a bird, too agile to be a guard. Before I could react, a hand shot through the opening, gripping my wrist with bruising force.

The window shattered inward.