The scream faded into the trees, leaving the clearing vibrating with a tension that settled under everyone's skin.
Owain stood stiff as stone.
Kanah could feel his rage through the bond—
a deep, controlled fury that shook his muscles.
"That was your father," Gerrin whispered.
Kanah nodded, throat tight.
"I've never heard him… angry like that."
Yllas circled slowly, frost-flame flickering along his arms.
"That wasn't anger."
Kanah looked at him.
"What was it?"
"Fear," he said simply.
Owain growled.
"Good."
The ground trembled again.
Not from screams this time—
from something moving beneath the surface.
The Devourer-born Kanah saved huddled close, pressing against her legs, shaking violently.
She knelt beside them.
"Easy," she whispered.
"It's okay. You're safe."
One of them—a young woman with cracked black veins thawing into faint gold—lifted her head and rasped:
"Not… safe…"
Kanah's heart twisted.
"What do you mean?"
The Devourer-born shuddered.
"Father…
Father…
is coming."
Kanah's breath hitched.
Owain's claws slid out with a soft scrape.
"He won't get near you."
The Devourer-born shook her head violently.
"He's not coming for… us."
She lifted a trembling finger and pointed—
directly at Kanah.
"He's coming…
for you."
Owain snapped, "Over my dead body."
Helion muttered, "He'll have to kill all of us first."
Yllas added, "And every dragon in the north."
The Eldress perched on a low branch above them.
"And every leopard in the trees."
Rhaegor cracked his neck.
"And every wolf of the Silverfang."
Vaeryn sighed heavily.
"I swear, this girl is going to get half the continent killed."
Kanah winced.
"Sorry—?"
Owain wrapped an arm around her waist instantly.
"Don't apologize.
This isn't your fault.
This is HIS fault."
Her father's influence pulsed again—
the ground shaking harder this time.
A wave of cold Devourer aura swept across the forest—
so sharp
so brutal
so crushing—
that the trees bent inwards.
Kanah staggered.
Owain caught her before she could fall.
"Kana—breathe—stay with me—"
She grabbed his arm.
"I feel him.
He's…
enraged."
Gerrin steadied her other side.
"Your awakening disrupted him. The stronger you get, the weaker his hold becomes."
Helion nodded.
"Which means he'll try to take you sooner."
Yllas added:
"No. Which means he's desperate."
Another tremor rippled across the clearing.
This time deeper.
Heavier.
Wrong.
Kanah's newly formed Devourer-born pack whimpered—pressing into her for protection.
She hugged one close, trembling herself.
"What is he doing to them?"
The young male she stabilized first whispered:
"He's… searching."
Kanah's breath froze.
"For what?"
"For… resonance.
For… daughter."
Owain pulled Kanah against him so tightly her breath hitched.
"He is NOT getting her."
Lythar stepped forward, serious and calm.
"We need to act. Now."
Vaeryn crossed his arms.
"Agreed. He's expanding his dominance field."
Kanah blinked.
"His… what?"
Gerrin explained quickly:
"Devourer alphas can project hunger and command to their pack."
Kanah nodded.
"But these aren't my father's pack."
Lythar corrected:
"They are his species."
Kanah's stomach dropped.
"So he's trying to pull them back?"
The Eldress's smile vanished.
"He's trying to override your influence."
Owain snarled.
"That won't happen."
The ground cracked.
Small fissures spread under their feet—
thin lines of black-gold light glowing from beneath the soil.
Kanah gasped.
"What is that?"
Gerrin paled.
"He's pushing resonance through the earth.
Trying to force your seed open."
Kanah clutched her chest.
The warmth she gained earlier flickered—
just for a second—
then steadied again when Owain's arms tightened around her.
He whispered fiercely:
"Fight it.
Anchor on me."
She leaned into him, heart pounding.
"I'm trying—"
Yllas's flames rose.
"We need a barrier."
Lythar gestured sharply.
"Elves, with me!"
Ten elves ran forward, forming a circle of mana-infused roots that pulsed outward in waves.
"Dragons!" Vaeryn shouted. "Fortify the sky!"
Wings burst open—
flame streaking upward.
"Leopards!" the Eldress ordered. "Guard the perimeter!"
Golden eyes lit the woods.
"Werewolves!" Rhaegor growled. "Watch the ground for breaches!"
Howls echoed.
Owain pulled Kanah close, cupping her jaw.
"Kana. Listen to me."
His voice broke.
"This is the first time he's tried to force dominance on you directly.
You need to hold your ground."
Kanah grabbed his wrists.
"I don't know if I can."
Owain kissed her forehead, desperate.
"You can.
Because you're not alone."
Helion dropped beside them.
"Because we're all here."
Yllas placed a hand on her back.
"Because your resonance is stronger than his."
Gerrin took her hand.
"Because you anchored yourself once. You can do it again."
The guardian beast lowered its massive head and pressed it to her shoulder.
Kanah inhaled sharply—
and found her center
her warmth
her heartbeat.
The ground pulsed again.
Her father's voice echoed, faint but unmistakable.
"Kanara."
Kanah stiffened.
Owain snarled:
"DON'T ANSWER HIM."
She shook violently.
"He's trying to pull me—"
"Then pull BACK," Owain commanded.
Kanah sucked in a breath.
Pressed her hand to her chest.
Closed her eyes.
And whispered:
"I am human.
I am Kanah.
I choose myself."
The Devourer-born around her gasped—
as if her voice washed over them.
Owain tightened his embrace.
"That's it.
Say it again."
"I choose myself."
The tremors slowed.
Not stopped.
But weakened.
Her father roared again—
not in command this time.
In fury.
Kanah trembled, tears streaking her cheeks.
"He's angry.
He's enraged.
He knows he's losing—"
Owain cupped her face roughly, desperately.
"Let him lose."
Kanah inhaled.
Exhaled.
And for the first time spoke not in fear—
but in defiance.
"He can't have me."
The cracks in the earth closed.
The tremor stopped.
Silence.
The elves collapsed to their knees.
Dragons landed hard, panting molten breath.
Wolves shook off the resonance.
Leopards hissed the last of the tension away.
Kanah sagged into Owain's arms.
He caught her instantly.
"You did it," he whispered.
She wiped her face.
"I'm still me."
Owain kissed her hair.
"Always."
But Yllas stepped closer, voice grave.
"Kanah… we held him off this time."
Gerrin added grimly:
"He will try again."
Helion muttered:
"And harder."
The Eldress stepped from the shadows.
"Your father will soon come in person, girl."
Kanah's heart twisted.
"What does that mean?"
Vaeryn's ember-gold eyes met hers.
"It means," he said simply,
"the Devourer King is preparing his army."
Kanah swallowed.
Owain's arm wrapped around her waist.
Yllas stepped close.
Gerrin took her hand.
Helion pressed his shoulder to hers.
The guardian rumbled behind them.
Kanah lifted her chin—
fearful
but unbroken.
"Then we prepare ours."