Chapter 37
The mountain did not stay quiet for long. After the vampires and witches left, the air remained heavy, as if something unseen still lingered just beyond the horizon. Ariana stood near the center of the cliff, her gaze fixed on the distant sky where dark clouds stretched slowly outward like a gathering storm. Even without seeing anything clearly yet, she could feel it pressing closer.
"They're not hiding anymore," she said quietly.
Kael stood beside her, his attention locked in the same direction. There was nothing relaxed about him now, even if he looked calm at first glance. Every part of him was alert, tracking every shift in the sky, and Ariana could feel it through their bond. "No," he said. "They're not."
Behind them, the Dragon King shifted slightly, his massive wings settling as his gaze turned outward. "The council gathers its strength."
Ariana turned toward him, unease tightening in her chest. "How many are there?"
