The stars above shifted. Not in position, but in shape. They twisted slowly into a spiral, golden lines connecting them in ways that formed a vast glyph in the sky. Jude stood instinctively. "It's a signal."
Emma starred up. "A map."
Rose walked toward the center of the rise, her hair like fire in the starlight. "It's a message."
Jude followed her, the others rising in silence. Together they stood in a circle again, just like in the ring. He felt it before it happened - the heat low in his belly, the tremble in the earth, the way the island's breath quickened like arousal.
From the shadows of the trees came light.
A dozen glowing figures emerged.
But they weren't people.
They weren't spirits either.
They were echoes.
Reflections.
Of themselves.
Each one matched one of them in shape and height - but their features were blurred, their edges rippling like heat waves. They moved with sensual grace, each stepping toward their living counterpart.
