The moment Ava crossed the bloodstone gate, the world changed.
Each step forward made the pendant at her chest tremble. Valkara magic.
She wasn't just entering the land of witches.
She was returning to it.
Ahead, a faint glow pulsed beneath the shadowed canopy. She moved toward it, heart pounding with a mix of fear and hope.
At the center of a wide clearing stood twelve figures, draped in robes.Their faces were hidden behind masks.
The leader stepped forward.
"Welcome, Ava," she said, "You have crossed into the domain of your ancestors."
Ava's throat tightened. "I'm here to learn. To understand what I am—and what I must become."
The witch nodded, stepping closer. "Your bloodline carries the weight of the Valkara Witchers—a power long feared and misunderstood. The Council has watched you, We have been waiting for you."
"You walk with lycans, with creatures of the night," the leader continued. "Your bond with Dante breaks ancient laws, yet the prophecy marks you as the Lunar Key. You brought two companions with you, we'd just let Dante come in since his your mate but not the Vampire."
Ava swallowed. "Thank you and what does that mean for me?"
"That you hold the fate of the supernatural world in your hands," the elder whispered. "To unite the fractured clans… or to see them shattered forever."
"I came here to learn how to control my powers, to fight what is coming, I need you to teach me."
The council stepped back, forming a circle around her. The runes on their masks glowed faintly, and the air thrummed with raw magic.
"We will teach you," the leader said. "But remember—here in the Marshes, truth is a double-edged blade. It can cut deep."
Ava. .. squared her shoulders, determination flaring inside her.
"I'm ready."
The clearing shimmered, The witches raised their hands in unison, their voices rising in a chant that echoed through the trees.
Ava watched in awe, now this was the real deal.
Her journey had truly begun