Selene's POV
"The child… she is the balance. The Moon's mark and the Shadow's touch live within her. If she lives, peace may come. If she falls…"
And then a voice whispered from within the flames.
"Guard the child. The mark of moon and shadow shall awaken before the seventh moon. What she becomes will decide the fate of wolves and witches alike."
My heart pounded as I jolted back to myself. The moonwater shimmered violently in the basin before stilling, leaving faint traces of blood and starlight swirling like a warning.
Flora stirred weakly on the bed. "Selene… is something wrong?"
I forced a calm smile. "No, Flora. Rest now. Your baby is blessed and watched over."
But even as I said it, I knew that blessings sometimes came wrapped in curses.
Elara hovered near the cradle, her face pale. "That wasn't a normal reading, was it?"
I shook my head. "No. The power that surged during her birth… it tore through the wards around this place."
