Morning came too fast.
The kind of morning that felt like the world was pretending everything was normal, even when death was already walking through the streets.
I woke up to the smell of rain on stone and the faint sound of market vendors shouting below our window.
Kael was already awake, sitting on the edge of the bed with his daggers laid out beside him like tools.
Lucien was on the floor.
He had not slept.
His back was against the wall, knees bent, cloak still on, eyes fixed on the door as if he expected it to explode.
When he noticed me sitting up, his gaze flicked to mine.
"You slept," he said quietly.
I frowned.
"That surprises you," I asked.
Lucien's jaw tightened.
"It should," he replied. "After everything."
Kael snorted.
"She sleeps because she knows she can kill anyone in this room," he muttered.
Lucien's eyes narrowed.
Kael raised a hand.
"What," he said. "Am I lying"
I rolled my eyes.
"Stop," I muttered. "Both of you."
Kael leaned closer to me.
"Elara," he whispered, voice low. "I want to check something."
Lucien's eyes sharpened.
"Check what," he asked.
Kael glanced at him.
"Mind your business," he replied.
Lucien's aura flickered slightly, but he controlled it quickly.
I looked at Kael.
"What is it," I asked.
Kael hesitated.
Then he spoke, quieter.
"Last night," he said, "when you asked me my sister's name…"
I nodded.
Kael's voice tightened.
"I remembered something," he whispered. "A symbol she used to draw."
My chest tightened.
"What symbol," I asked.
Kael reached into his pocket and pulled out a small folded piece of paper.
He unfolded it.
On it was a sketch.
A simple mark.
A circle with a slash through it, and three dots below.
Lucien's eyes narrowed the moment he saw it.
"That," he said.
Kael snapped his gaze to him.
"You know it," Kael demanded.
Lucien's expression hardened.
"It is a Blood Council mark," he replied. "A recruitment seal. They brand prisoners with it."
Kael's face turned pale.
His voice shook.
"So she was taken by them," he whispered.
Lucien nodded.
"Yes," he said quietly.
Kael's jaw tightened.
For the first time since I met him, his humor disappeared completely.
He looked like a man ready to burn the world.
I leaned forward.
"Kael," I said softly.
He did not answer.
He just stared at the paper like it was a death sentence.
Then he whispered.
"I am going to find her."
I nodded slowly.
"We will," I corrected.
Kael blinked.
He looked at me.
I met his gaze calmly.
"You are not doing this alone," I said.
Kael swallowed.
Then he nodded once.
Lucien watched us silently.
His eyes darkened slightly, like he was realizing he was no longer the center of my decisions.
Then a loud bell rang outside.
A deep guild bell.
Kael's head snapped toward the window.
"That is the Raven bell," he muttered.
Lucien's expression sharpened.
"That means trouble," he said.
Kael scoffed.
"In case you did not notice, trouble lives with us," he replied.
I stood quickly and pulled my cloak on.
Kael grabbed his daggers.
Lucien rose from the floor smoothly, like he had never been tired.
We moved downstairs.
The streets outside the inn were crowded.
People were gathered near the Raven Guild Hall entrance, whispering.
Some looked curious.
Some looked afraid.
The guards were tense.
The moment we reached the guild gates, I saw it.
A black carriage.
Large and polished.
Its wheels were carved with ancient runes.
The horses pulling it were not normal.
Their eyes glowed faintly red.
The crowd kept their distance.
Kael muttered.
"That carriage smells expensive."
Lucien's face darkened.
"That is not wealth," he whispered. "That is power."
The carriage door opened slowly.
And a man stepped out.
He was tall, dressed in dark robes that seemed too clean for Ravenspire mud. His hair was silver, tied back neatly. His skin was pale, and his eyes…
His eyes were blood red.
Not human.
Not beast.
Something in between.
Elder Morcant.
I did not know his face.
But my blood knew him.
The Queen's voice screamed inside my skull.
Blood Council Elder.
My crown mark burned faintly.
Kael glanced at me sharply.
"You feel that," he whispered.
I nodded slightly.
Lucien's jaw tightened.
"He came," he muttered.
Morcant stepped forward calmly, as if the entire city belonged to him.
Two armored guards followed behind him.
Their armor was black and smooth, and their helmets were shaped like serpents.
Selene's unit.
The crowd stepped back further.
Then Darius Crowe appeared at the guild entrance.
His expression was calm.
But his eyes were sharp.
Like a wolf meeting another predator.
"Elder Morcant," Darius said coldly.
Morcant smiled slightly.
"Darius Crowe," he replied smoothly. "Still playing leader of thieves."
Darius's lips curled.
"And you," he said. "Still playing god."
Morcant chuckled.
"I did not come to insult you," he said. "I came for business."
Darius crossed his arms.
"We do not do business with the Blood Council," he replied.
Morcant tilted his head.
"You do," he said. "You just do not admit it."
Darius's gaze hardened.
"What do you want," he demanded.
Morcant's eyes moved across the crowd slowly.
And when his gaze swept past me, my blood froze.
He did not stop.
But I felt it.
Like a hand brushing my soul.
He was searching.
Morcant spoke calmly.
"A fugitive has entered Ravenspire," he said.
The crowd murmured.
Morcant continued.
"She is dangerous," he said. "A criminal. A royal blood traitor."
Kael whispered.
"He is talking about you."
Lucien's voice was low.
"Do not react," he warned.
Morcant stepped closer to Darius.
"The Blood Council requests your cooperation," he said. "Hand her over, and Ravenspire will be rewarded."
Darius laughed once.
A cold laugh.
"You think I sell my people," he said.
Morcant smiled.
"I think you sell anything," he replied.
The tension between them thickened.
Then Morcant lifted his hand slightly.
A black scroll appeared.
He held it up.
"This is an official bounty," he said. "Elara Nightborne. Alive."
The crowd gasped.
My chest tightened.
Hearing my name spoken publicly felt like a blade sliding under my skin.
Kael's jaw clenched.
Lucien's fists tightened at his sides.
Darius's gaze sharpened.
He stared at the scroll.
Then his eyes narrowed.
"Elara Nightborne is dead," Darius said.
Morcant chuckled.
"So the rumors claim," he replied.
Then Morcant's gaze turned toward the crowd again.
His voice became louder.
"If anyone in Ravenspire hides her," he announced, "you will be considered enemies of the Blood Council."
The crowd murmured uneasily.
Some people stepped back.
Some looked around nervously.
Morcant continued.
"We will burn your markets," he said. "We will poison your wells. We will collapse your guild hall."
Darius's aura flared.
His voice was sharp.
"Threaten my city again," Darius growled, "and you will not leave it alive."
Morcant smiled wider.
"I admire your courage," he said. "But courage does not stop blood magic."
Then he turned slightly.
And his gaze landed directly on Lucien.
Lucien stiffened.
Kael's eyes widened.
Morcant's smile became poisonous.
"Lucien Valemont," he said softly.
The crowd gasped again.
Lucien stepped forward calmly, his face controlled.
"My lord," Lucien said, bowing slightly.
My heart tightened.
He was acting.
He had to.
Kael whispered angrily.
"What is he doing"
Lucien did not look at us.
He kept his eyes on Morcant.
Morcant walked closer.
"So you did not run far," Morcant murmured.
Lucien's voice stayed steady.
"I did not run," he replied. "I came to retrieve what belongs to the Council."
Morcant studied him.
Then he nodded slowly.
"Good," he said. "Then you will assist me."
Lucien bowed again.
"Yes, Elder," he replied.
Kael's face twisted with disgust.
I could feel my own anger rising.
But I forced it down.
Because Lucien was playing a dangerous game.
Morcant turned back to Darius.
"We will search Ravenspire," he said.
Darius's eyes narrowed.
"You will not," he replied.
Morcant's smile faded.
His voice became cold.
"You do not have a choice," he said.
Then he lifted his hand.
A blood aura flared around him, dark and thick.
The air in the courtyard shifted instantly.
The crowd backed away, terrified.
Even Darius's guards stiffened.
Morcant's aura pressed like a mountain.
I felt my knees almost buckle.
Kael gritted his teeth.
Lucien stood still, expression tight.
Morcant's eyes glowed brighter.
"Bring the blood seekers," he ordered.
Two serpent guards stepped forward, carrying a black cage.
Inside it was a creature.
Small.
Winged.
A raven.
But its feathers were not feathers.
They were made of hardened blood.
Its eyes were crimson.
The blood raven.
The same one I had seen above my window.
It screeched.
The sound made my skin crawl.
Morcant's voice was calm.
"This creature can smell royal blood," he said.
My heart slammed.
Kael whispered.
"Shit."
Lucien's jaw tightened.
Morcant opened the cage.
The raven flew out, circling the courtyard.
Then it dove low.
Passing over trainees.
Over guards.
Over merchants.
The raven screeched again.
And its flight changed direction.
Straight toward me.
My blood froze.
Kael stepped slightly in front of me.
Lucien's eyes widened.
Darius's gaze sharpened.
The raven swooped closer.
Closer.
Then suddenly…
it stopped.
It hovered in the air for a second.
Then turned sharply.
And flew toward Lyra.
Lyra screamed.
The raven landed on her shoulder, screeching wildly.
Lyra panicked, trying to slap it away.
"What is this," she cried.
The crowd erupted.
Morcant's eyes narrowed.
He stepped forward.
"Interesting," he murmured.
Lyra's face turned pale.
"I am not royal," she shouted. "I swear!"
The raven screeched louder.
Morcant lifted his hand, placing his fingers near Lyra's forehead.
Lyra trembled.
Kael whispered.
"Elara… why did it choose her"
Lucien's voice was low.
"It did not," he whispered. "Someone made it."
My eyes widened.
Someone had manipulated the raven.
To mislead Morcant.
To protect me.
I glanced toward Lucien.
But he was staring at the ground, pretending nothing happened.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
He leaned close to me.
"Was that him," he whispered.
I did not answer.
Because I did not know.
Morcant's fingers pressed against Lyra's skin.
Lyra screamed again.
Then Morcant frowned.
"No," he murmured.
He pulled his hand away.
Lyra collapsed to the ground, sobbing.
Morcant turned his gaze back to the crowd.
His eyes were colder now.
"The raven is confused," he said.
His voice sharpened.
"But it will not stay confused forever."
Then he looked at Darius.
"I will remain in Ravenspire until I find her," he said calmly.
Darius's voice was cold.
"You will not last long here," he replied.
Morcant smiled faintly.
"We will see," he murmured.
Then he turned away, stepping back toward his carriage.
Lucien followed him immediately.
Before he entered, Lucien glanced back once.
His eyes met mine for a brief second.
And in that glance, I saw it.
A warning.
Not a threat.
A warning.
Then he climbed into the carriage.
The serpent guards shut the door.
The carriage rolled away.
The crowd slowly dispersed, whispering loudly.
Fear spread through Ravenspire like wildfire.
Darius remained standing at the guild entrance, watching the carriage leave.
His expression was unreadable.
Then he turned and shouted.
"Raven guards," he ordered. "Lock the gates. No one enters or leaves without inspection."
The guards moved quickly.
Kael grabbed my wrist gently.
"We have to go," he whispered.
I nodded.
We slipped away through the crowd, back into the narrow streets.
The moment we were alone, Kael spoke quickly.
"Elara," he whispered. "That raven almost found you."
I exhaled.
"It did," I said quietly.
Kael frowned.
"What do you mean," he asked.
I glanced at him.
"It smelled me," I said. "But it changed direction."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"Someone redirected it," he whispered.
I nodded slowly.
Kael's voice became serious.
"That means someone in that courtyard is on our side," he said.
My chest tightened.
"Or someone is playing a deeper game," I replied.
Kael nodded slowly.
"You are right," he said.
Then he paused.
"Elara," he asked softly, "what do we do now"
I hesitated.
Then I spoke quietly.
"We find out where Morcant is staying," I said.
Kael blinked.
"We are going to stalk a Blood Council Elder," he whispered.
I glanced at him.
"Yes," I replied.
Kael stared at me.
Then he sighed.
"Okay," he muttered. "I miss the days when my biggest problem was stealing bread."
I almost smiled.
Almost.
Then Kael's expression tightened again.
"Also," he whispered, "I saw something else."
I turned to him.
"What," I asked.
Kael swallowed.
"Before Morcant came," he said, "someone slipped a note into my pocket."
My heart tightened.
Kael pulled out a folded piece of paper.
He opened it.
The handwriting was rushed.
Only five words were written.
SHE IS ALIVE. COME TO BLACK DOCK.
Kael's breath caught.
His voice trembled.
"They mean Serah," he whispered.
My chest tightened.
Kael's eyes lifted to mine.
"Elara," he said softly, "I need to go."
I stared at him.
My mind raced.
Black Dock was dangerous.
Ravenspire docks were full of thieves, smugglers, and killers.
It could be a trap.
But Kael's eyes…
His eyes were filled with something I had not seen before.
Hope.
I exhaled slowly.
Then I nodded.
"We go together," I said.
Kael blinked.
"Elara—"
"No," I cut him off. "You are not going alone."
Kael stared at me.
Then his voice softened.
"Thank you," he whispered.
I looked away.
"Do not thank me," I muttered. "Just do not die."
Kael smiled faintly.
Then his face hardened.
"Let us go," he said.
And as we walked toward the darker side of Ravenspire, I felt it.
The storm was growing.
Morcant had arrived.
Lucien was playing double agent.
Kael had a lead.
And somewhere in the shadows…
Selene was still becoming something worse.
Ravenspire was lively.
But beneath the lanterns…
the city was starting to rot.