The scream rolled through the Ashenveil like a war horn ,Moonstone shards flared brighter, then dimmed again, as if the forest itself had taken a breath and held it.
Seraphin didn't flinch. She pushed off the tree with lazy grace, violet eyes never leaving lira .
"Relax, kazeal ," she said. "If I wanted you dead, you'd already be bleeding."
Kazeal's bow stayed up, arrow centred on her heart. "You sold information to the Queen's hunters last winter, Three rangers died."
Seraphin shrugged. "They paid better. Tonight I'm feeling generous." She tilted her head toward the darkness behind her. "Something big is coming. You'll want my help."
Another scream, closer.The ground trembled.
Kazeal's jaw worked. Slowly, very slowly, he lowered the bow, but the arrow stayed nocked.
"Talk fast," he said.
Seraphin's smile widened. "Not here. Follow, or die screaming. Your choice."
She turned and melted between the silver trunks. After a heartbeat, kazeal swore under his breath and followed. Lira went after him, staff gripped tight.
They ran,
The forest fought them every step. Roots rose like striking snakes; branches whipped across their faces. Illusions flickered at the edges of sight: Emberhollow burning again,kazeal throat opened by invisible claws, lira's own mother "a woman she had never known"reaching out with arms made of flame.
Each time, kazeal voice cut through: "Eyes on me,Only me."They burst into a small clearing ringed by standing stones carved with faded runes. Seraphin was already there, crouched over a circle of moonstone dust, She flicked her wrist silver fire raced around the perimeter and sealed with a sound like a bell struck underwater.
The screaming thing outside the circle slammed into the barrier and recoiled with a howl that rattled teeth.
Safe for the moment, lira sagged, chest heaving.Kazeal rounded on Seraphin.
"What was that?"
"Wraith-boar. Old guardian spirit gone rotten.Malthor's been twisting the forest's memories into weapons." She wiped dust from her fingers. "You're welcome."
Kazeal's eyes narrowed. "Why help us?"
Seraphin gaze slid to lira again, hungry and knowing. "Because she glows. And I like bright things."
Lira felt heat rise in her cheeks. She stepped forward. "You said you were waiting for me."
"I did." Seraphin rose in one fluid motion. "Three nights ago the scrying pool in Silvervein showed me a girl made of living fire walking beside the exile prince. I thought, 'That looks like fun.'"
Kazeal made a low, dangerous sound.
Seraphin ignored him, She reached out and brushed a knuckle along lira's jaw, feather-light. "You're shaking, little ember. Cold or afraid?"
"Both,"lira admitted.
Good, Fear keeps you sharp." Seraphin thumb lingered at the corner of lira's mouth. "We'll fix the cold."
Kazeal stepped between them, not quite touching either of them, but the air crackled. "Enough games. Are you taking us to the Hollow or not?"
Seraphin's smile turned wicked. "Oh, I'll take you, "But the price went up." She flicked a glance at the scar visible beneath the open throat of Kazeal's tunic the exile rune, livid even in moonlight. "I want the story behind that brand, prince. All of it."
Kazeal went very still,
Lira saw the muscle jump in his jaw, the way his fingers whitened on the bow. She moved before she thought, closing the small distance and laying her hand over his heart.
"Not tonight," she said quietly. "Tonight we just survive."
Something flickered across his face, gratitude or pain, impossible to tell. He covered her hand with his own for a single heartbeat, then let go.
Seraphin watched them with unreadable eyes. "How noble," she murmured. "Fine. Payment deferred, But interest accrues."
She snapped her fingers. The silver barrier flared again, carving a narrow corridor of light through the trees.
"This way. Try to keep up."
They ran again, three shadows between walls of living moonlight.
Hours later, when the false dawn painted the sky bruise-purple, the corridor spat them out at the lip of a hidden ravine. A rope bridge swayed over blackness. On the far side, half-buried in the cliff, glowed the faint blue-green light of Silvervein Hollow.
Seraphin paused at the bridge's edge. "Almost gently, she said, "Welcome home, Kazeal. Try not to get us all killed before breakfast."
She stepped onto the swaying planks and vanished into the glow.
Kazeal stared after her, face unreadable.
Lira touched his arm. "You okay?"
"No," he said. The word came out raw. "But I will be."
He took the first step onto the bridge. Lira followed.
Behind them, the Ashenveil closed its black leaves and began, very patiently, to wait.