"The people who wanted Aurelia's inheritance."
Seraphine's words lingered in the air.
Nobody spoke for several moments.
The wind swept across the hillside.
Below them, the forest stretched endlessly toward the horizon.
Dark.
Ancient.
Waiting.
Emily stared at the sea of trees.
Only hours ago, she had been fighting to survive inside a collapsing underground facility.
Now she was apparently at the center of an ancient prophecy.
A descendant of Aurelia.
The Returning Blood.
The future heir to a power she barely understood.
Her life had become completely insane.
Daniel seemed to share that opinion.
"I miss the days when my biggest problem was avoiding paperwork."
Lucien glanced at him.
"You complained about paperwork every day."
"Exactly."
Daniel pointed dramatically.
"Those were simpler times."
Even Seraphine smiled.
For a brief moment, the tension eased.
Only briefly.
Because reality quickly returned.
Other groups were searching for the Sanctuary.
