**The Safehouse**
The safehouse was not safe.
Eira knew it the moment they crossed the threshold. The air smelled of damp stone and something sharper—iron, maybe. Blood.
Kaelan moved through the dim room like a ghost, his boots silent on the warped floorboards. "We rest here until dawn," he said, tossing her a roll of bandages. "Wrap that mark. It's like a beacon when it flares."
She caught the cloth, her fingers brushing his. A spark jumped between them—not magic, but something warmer, more dangerous. She yanked her hand back.
"You still haven't told me what *you* are," she said, watching as he barred the door with a chair.
"A Shadowmancer." He didn't look at her. "Born of the Obsidian Court."
"The Shadow King's court."
"*Former* court." His jaw tightened. "I left."
"Why?"
The question hung between them. For a moment, she thought he wouldn't answer. Then—
"Because I saw what he did to your people."
The words landed like a blow. Eira turned away, pretending to examine the bandages. Her mark pulsed faintly, a reminder of what she was. *What she could do.*
A floorboard creaked. Kaelan was suddenly *there*, his hand hovering over her wrist. "Does it hurt?"
She swallowed. "Only when I use it."
"Don't. Not until I can teach you to control it." His thumb grazed the edge of the crescent, and her breath hitched. "Magic like this… it *burns* through people."
She met his eyes. "Is that what happened to your brother?"
Kaelan went very still. Then—
A *knock* at the door.
**The Visitor**
They both froze.
No one should have found this place. No one *could* have.
Kaelan drew a blade from his boot, motioning for Eira to stay back. She ignored him, her fingers curling into fists. If this was another Hunter, she'd burn him alive.
The door swung open before Kaelan could reach it.
A woman stood on the threshold, her cloak dripping rainwater onto the floor. She was beautiful in a way that made Eira's skin prickle—too perfect, like a painting come to life.
"Kaelan," the woman purred. "You've been *naughty*."
Eira expected anger. Fear. Not the raw, gutted look that crossed Kaelan's face.
"*Lirien*."
The woman—Lirien—stepped inside, her gaze sliding to Eira. "Oh, *she's* pretty. No wonder you've been stalling."
Kaelan's blade didn't waver. "You weren't sent to check on me."
"No." Lirien smiled. "I was sent to clean up your mess."
Then she *moved*.
Eira barely saw the dagger before it was flying toward her throat—
Kaelan knocked it aside with a snarl, shadows erupting from his skin. They lashed at Lirien, driving her back. "*Run,*" he barked at Eira.
She didn't need telling twice.
---
**The Truth**
Eira made it three steps before the pain hit.
Her mark *ignited*, silver fire racing up her arm. She cried out, collapsing against the wall as visions slammed into her—
*A boy with Kaelan's eyes, screaming as shadows consumed him.*
*Lirien, whispering in the Shadow King's ear.*
*And Kaelan… kneeling before the throne, swearing an oath.*
*"Bring me the last Starlight heir,"* the king commanded, *"and I'll free your brother."*
The vision shattered. Eira gasped, her nails scraping stone.
*He lied.*
Kaelan hadn't left the Obsidian Court. He was *still working for them*.
And she was the bounty.
---
**The Choice**
She found them in the courtyard—Kaelan and Lirien locked in a deadly dance of blades and shadows.
Lirien saw her first. "Oh, *little star*," she cooed. "Come to die with him?"
Kaelan whirled. "Eira, *go*—"
She didn't.
Her magic rose in a torrent, starlight blazing from her palms. It struck Lirien square in the chest, hurling her into the wall. The woman slumped, unconscious or dead—Eira didn't care.
Kaelan stared at her, his chest heaving. "You—"
"*You lied to me.*" Her voice shook. "You're *still* his hound."
Something fractured in his expression. "Eira, listen—"
"No." She backed away, her light flickering like a guttering candle. "You want to save your brother? Fine. But I won't be the price."
She turned and ran—
A hand caught her wrist. Kaelan spun her to face him, his grip iron. "You don't understand. The king *isn't* the real enemy."
"Then who is?"
His eyes burned. "The thing he's been trying to keep locked away. The thing *your* magic woke up tonight."
A howl echoed in the distance—not human, not animal. Something *worse*.
Lirien groaned, stirring. Kaelan's grip tightened. "We can fight this. *Together.* But you have to trust me."
Eira wrenched free. "I did. Once."
Then she ran into the dark.
---
### **Teaser for Chapter Four: The Forgotten**
*The Shadow King wasn't hunting Eira to kill her.*
*He needed her alive—to keep the true monster sleeping.*
*But now it was awake.*
*And it remembered her name.*