The sound of Kaelen's urgent voice dragged me from deep sleep.
"Seraphina, wake up. We need to go. Now."
I blinked in confusion, struggling to orient myself in the darkness of our bedroom. The digital clock read 3:17 AM.
"What's happening?" I mumbled, my brain still foggy with sleep.
Kaelen was already moving around the room with purposeful efficiency, throwing items into a bag. His face was tight with tension, his movements sharp and controlled.
"We're under attack," he said, his voice eerily calm despite the alarming words. "The Royal Army has surrounded Shadow Crest. We have minutes, at most."
That snapped me fully awake. I sat bolt upright, instinctively wrapping protective arms around my pregnant belly.
"The Royal Army? But how—"
"It's Valerius," Kaelen cut me off, tossing a small bag onto the bed. "Put on the clothes I've laid out and pack only what you absolutely need. We can't take much."
