Chapter 19

Eira's POV

My shoulder still screams at me. It’s a dull, constant throb, a steady reminder of the beast’s claws. I shift against the cold cave wall, trying to find a position that doesn’t make it worse. No luck. I close my eyes, and the scene plays again behind my lids. The shadow thing, all teeth and fury. The way it moved,

like nothing I’d ever seen.

"You okay?"

Raven’s voice cuts through my thoughts. I open my eyes and give her a tight smile.

"Peachy," I say, and it comes out dry. Sarcasm is my best friend these days.

She doesn’t smile back. Her eyes are on Kael, who lies still, too still, a few feet away. His skin burns with fever. Black veins spread like ink from the wound. It’s a sight that makes my stomach churn.

“How is he?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

Raven’s jaw tightens. “No better.”

I swallow. “There has to be something we can do.”

“There is,” Lysander says, his voice low. He’s been standing at the cave entrance, watching the woods. Waiting.

“The Tome of Hollow Dawn,” I say. We all know it. It’s the only option.

“And the Obsidian Spire,” Raven adds, her voice flat. “Great.”

I snort. “Yeah, because that’s just a walk in the park.”

Lysander turns from the entrance, his face grim. “I’ve scouted ahead.”

“And?” Raven asks, her eyes sharp.

“It’s just as we suspected. They’re waiting for us.”

I let out a harsh laugh. “Of course they are. Why wouldn’t they be?”

Raven’s gaze flicks to me, then back to Lysander. “How many?”

“Too many. They’ve fortified the perimeter. There’s no easy way in.”

“Easy was never part of the plan,” Raven says, her voice hard.

I push myself up, ignoring the pain in my shoulder. “So, what’s the not-so-easy plan?”

Lysander hesitates. “There isn’t one. Not yet.”

“We’ll find one,” I say, perhaps a bit too quickly. I don’t like the look in his eyes. It’s the same look he had when he told Kael about his father’s death.

“We don’t have time for this,” Raven says, her voice tight. She’s looking at Kael again, and I know what she’s thinking. The poison is winning.

“I know that,” Lysander snaps. “But we can’t just rush in there. It’s a trap.”

“We have to try,” I say. “Kael…”

I can’t finish the sentence. The words get stuck in my throat.

Raven steps forward, her eyes blazing. “We’re not leaving him here to die.”

“I didn’t say we were,” Lysander says, his voice softer now. “But we need a plan. A good one.”

“So, think of one,” I snap. My patience is wearing thin.

Lysander sighs. “I’m trying.”

“Well, try harder,” I say.

Raven shoots me a look. “Eira.”

“What?” I ask. “He’s taking too long.”

“He’s trying to help,” she says.

“I know that,” I say, my voice softer now. I run a hand through my hair. “I just… I want to get him back.”

“We all do,” Raven says.

I look at Kael again. His face is pale, his breathing shallow. He looks… fragile. It’s a sight that makes my chest ache.

“He’s strong,” I say, more to myself than to them. “He’ll make it.”

“We’ll make sure of it,” Raven says, her voice firm.

I nod, but I don’t say anything. I don’t trust my voice right now.

Lysander clears his throat. “There’s another way.”

“What?” Raven asks, her eyes hopeful.

“A tunnel. An old one. It leads into the Spire.”

“Why didn’t you say so before?” I ask, my voice sharp.

He shrugs. “It’s dangerous. It’s unstable. And it’s probably guarded.”

“But it’s a way in,” Raven says.

“Yes,” Lysander says. “But…”

“But what?” I ask.

“It’s not big enough. We can’t all go through it.”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“It’s narrow. Only one person can fit through at a time.”

“So, one of us goes,” I say.

“It’s not that simple,” Lysander says. “It’s a long tunnel. It could take hours.”

“Hours?” Raven asks. “Kael doesn’t have hours.”

“I know,” Lysander says. “But it’s our only option.”

I look at Kael again. His condition is getting worse. We don’t have a choice.

“I’ll go,” I say.

Raven’s head snaps up. “No.”

“I’m the fastest,” I say. “I can get there quicker.”

“It’s too dangerous,” she says.

“So is staying here,” I snap.

“She’s right,” Lysander says. “She’s our best chance.”

Raven hesitates. “But…”

“I’ll be careful,” I say.

“You better be,” Raven says, her voice tight.

I nod. “I will.”

I look at Lysander. “Show me the tunnel.”

He nods and turns to leave. I look back at Raven one last time.

“I’ll be back,” I say.

“You better be,” she says.

I turn and follow Lysander. The tunnel entrance is hidden behind a thicket of bushes. It’s small, barely big enough for me to squeeze through.

“This is it,” Lysander says.

I look at him. “You’re not coming with me?”

He shakes his head. “I’ll stay here. With Kael.”

I nod. “Okay.”

I take a deep breath and crouch down. “Wish me luck.”

“You won’t need it,” Lysander says.

I smirk. “You’re right. I’m too good for luck.”

I squeeze through the opening. It’s dark and damp. The air smells like earth and rot. I shiver.

The tunnel is narrow, just like Lysander said. I have to crawl on my hands and knees. It’s slow and uncomfortable.

I can hear the sound of water dripping. The walls are slick with moisture. I feel a chill run down my spine.

I don’t like this.

I keep moving. I have to. For Kael.

The tunnel twists and turns. It feels like I’ve been crawling for hours. I’m starting to get tired.

I see a light ahead. A faint glow in the distance. Hope flares in my chest.

I crawl faster, my hands scraping against the rough stone. The light gets closer. It’s not the end of the tunnel. It’s a side passage. A small opening in the wall.

I pause, catching my breath. Should I check it out?

I hesitate. I don’t want to waste time. But what if it’s a shortcut?

I decide to take a look. I crawl towards the opening. It’s small, but I can squeeze through.

I push myself through the hole. I find myself in a small chamber. It’s lit by a single torch on the wall.

The light flickers, casting strange shadows.

The chamber is empty. Or so I think.

Then I hear a sound. A soft rustling. I freeze.

I draw one of my knives. My heart pounds in my chest.

“Who’s there?” I whisper.

Silence.

I take a step forward. The rustling gets louder. It’s coming from behind a pile of rocks.

I move slowly, my knife raised. I peek behind the rocks.

My breath hitches.

It’s a wolf. But not like any wolf I’ve ever seen. Its fur is black as night. Its eyes glow red. It’s big. Too big.

It snarls at me, its teeth long and sharp.

I take a step back. This is bad.

The wolf lunges.

I scream.

I try to dodge, but it’s too fast. It knocks me to the ground. I hit my head. Hard.

Everything goes black.

I push myself up, my head spinning. The wolf is gone. But the pain in my head is real. I reach up and touch my temple. It’s sticky. Blood.

“Great,” I mutter.

I try to stand, but my legs wobble. I lean against the wall, taking deep breaths.

“You okay?”

Lysander’s voice comes from the tunnel entrance.

“Yeah,” I lie. “Just peachy.”

He doesn’t look convinced. “What happened?”

“Ran into a… dog,” I say.

“A dog?” He raises an eyebrow.

“A big one,” I say. “With red eyes.”

Lysander frowns. “I didn’t see anything like that.”

“Well, it saw me,” I say. “And it wasn’t friendly.”

I push away from the wall, testing my legs. They’re shaky, but they’ll hold.

“I need to keep going,” I say.

“Are you sure?” Lysander asks. “You took a nasty hit.”

“I’m fine,” I say. “Kael doesn’t have time for me to take a nap.”

Lysander sighs. “Alright. But be careful.”

“Always am,” I say.

I squeeze back into the tunnel. The image of the wolf’s red eyes burns in my mind. What was that thing? It moved with such speed, such... hunger.

I shake my head, trying to focus. I have a job to do. I have to get to the Spire. I have to get the Tome.

I crawl through the tunnel, the darkness pressing in on me. The air is thick and heavy, like something is trying to suffocate me.

My head throbs. The wound on my shoulder stings.

I’m starting to feel dizzy.

I have to keep going.

I think of Kael, his face pale, the black veins spreading. I think of Raven, her eyes filled with fear. I think of Eira, her voice shaking as she told me to be careful.

I have to do this. For them.

The tunnel seems to go on forever. I lose track of time. I just keep crawling, one hand in front of the other.

Finally, I see it. The end.

A faint light shines in the distance. I push myself forward, my heart pounding with renewed hope.

The tunnel opens into another chamber. This one is bigger, with a high ceiling and stone walls. Torches flicker, casting dancing shadows.

And I’m not alone.

Figures move in the shadows. They’re tall and cloaked, their faces hidden in darkness. They’re silent, watching me.

I freeze.

This is it. This is the trap.

A voice echoes through the chamber, cold and smooth.

“Welcome, Moon’s Daughter.”

I grip my knife. “Who are you?”

The figures step forward, into the light. My breath hitches.

They’re werewolves. But they look… different. Their eyes glow with an eerie light. Their teeth are too long, too sharp.

They’re smiling.

“We are the Obsidian Spire,” one of them says.

“The real Obsidian Spire,” another one adds.

My blood runs cold.

What does that mean?

“You’re not the council,” I say.

They laugh.

“The council?” the first one says. “They are just puppets. We are the true power here.”

“What do you want?” I ask, my voice shaking despite my efforts.

“What we have always wanted,” the voice says. “The prophecy fulfilled.”

“You’re working with Darian,” I say.

“Darian is a fool,” the voice says. “He seeks power for himself. We seek something greater.”

“What’s that?”

“The end of the world as you know it.”

My hand trembles. I have to get out of here. I have to warn the others.

I take a step back, but the figures move, blocking my path.

“You’re not going anywhere, Moon’s Daughter,” the voice says.

They advance, their glowing eyes burning into mine.

I’m trapped.