{RIVEN'S POV}
The sound of chalk scraping against the floor filled the room as my mother drew the lines of the ritual circle. It stretched wide across the floor—an intricate weave of patterns and runes that twisted into each other.
Everyone stood in silence, watching.
Morganna, Malakai, Eden, Lukas, Giselle, Agatha, Vivienne, Alistair, and me.
No one dared to breathe too loudly. The air itself felt sacred, humming with the kind of anticipation that made your heart stumble before catching itself again.
When my mother finally rose to her feet, she turned toward Morganna, her expression unreadable.
"The compass," she said, her voice calm but commanding.
Morganna stepped forward without hesitation and pressed the brass object into her palm.
My mother took it then turned to Vivienne. "Aurora's locket."
