The taste of vanilla and moonlight lingered in Finric's mouth when he jolted awake to Aeron standing over him with a glass vial in hand. The scent hit him like a punch. Nova.
Aeron's voice was calm, but there was urgency beneath it. "Your orders were clear. If battle struck, no matter how early—wake you immediately."
Fin pushed off the covers, already across the room, pulling on clothes. "Is she hurt?"
"Her whereabouts are unknown. Third and fourth council meetings were at dawn and afternoon. Starfang led a trap attack as expected."
"We were breached just after the fourth council meeting started. No Shadowclaw forces were able to get the council meeting to aid her as planned. She's relying solely on the loyalty of Redmoon and Bloodmoon. Mindlinks are unstable."
Fin's jaw locked as he yanked on his shirt. "Give me the tonic."
Aeron passed the thick silver flask. "It'll balance the transition. You need full strength."
As Fin drank, Elle stepped through the portal with Marra behind.
"You're not going alone," she said flatly.
"No," Fin barked. "Neither of you are to engage. Cael and Jax gave that order and I'm enforcing it."
Elle looked upset, but she didn't argue.
Fin turned to Aeron, slipping his sword across his back. "Where is she?"
"Last place she was seen was the fourth high council meeting. There's something else you should know…" Aeron hesitated.
"Speak." Fin barked.
"Starfang cornered her this morning at the end of the third meeting. Called her the white wolf, outed her mark, and implied she had silver blood. Rex Redmoon stepped in. Bloodmoon is who we are unsure of." His eyes flickered to Marra.
"Redmoon is too valuable of a trade partner to Bloodmoon. He will stay loyal to Redmoon due to that alone. And from what I've seen, Redmoon is willing to bleed for Nova."
"Yes, I trust Redmoon." Aeron agreed.
Fin ran through the portal into the battle tent, Aeron behind him. Aeron closed it before Marra or Elle got any ideas.
Fin could see flashes of light. He quickly put on his armor. The camp was in disarray. Roaring. Screams. Magic colliding midair. Smoke spiraling from the eastern rise. Swords clanking. The smell of smoke.
His heart was pounding. Nova was in the middle of all of this.
He spun, mindlink already burning in his skull.
Fin: Nova. Where are you?
Nothing.
Fin: Nova. Answer me.
Fin: Cael? Jax? Report. Now.
Only Jax's voice responded, rough and tense.
Jax:I wasn't able to make it into the council. Something hit our flank—Rex — Starfang's — before the explosion. He—
The link flickered. Fin pushed harder, sprinting through the maze of tents.
Fin:Nova, please. Gods—answer me.
Still nothing.
He broke through the next set of tents, scanning wildly, his senses screaming. The sky above was roiling. Something was coming.
And Nova was nowhere to be seen.
"Nova!" He screamed. Nothing. He could feel that she was here, but that was it. His senses were a little disoriented after sleeping for days.
Fin ran harder, eyes scanning.
Fin: Jax, Cael, where are you?
Cael: Alpha, you're awake! We are south, towards a field. Major Sparrow
finally got to the council summit tent, no sign of Nova. Confirmed killings of Bardoff,
Eclipseborne, Blackthorne, and Hallowbrook Alphas. Starfang escaped.