The woman shook her head, then turned toward the real room where they all stood watching. She stood upon the water as if it were solid marble.
Nova moved abruptly away from Fin, eyes glowing silver taking him by surprise. He reached for her, but his hand met an invisible barrier. Her magic prevented all contact, the same way it had when the Moon Goddess possessed her before.
The woman in the vision began to speak, but the sound did not come from her. It came from Nova.
Nova's eyes were pure silver with no pupil and her hair glowed silver white, floating around her as if she were submerged underwater. It mirrored the woman's hair exactly, shimmering with the same otherworldly light.
The woman faced the group. Nova's voice was not her voice at all. It was a pitch lower and carried a heavier tone of authority and command.
"You would have failed today had I not intervened. I show you this so you understand. What occurred today was not skill. It was fortune."
The woman turned to Rex. Nova's lips moved with hers in perfect unison, and when she spoke, the voice that emerged was still not her own. The sound was colder and deeper.
"Prince of Redmoon. I offer apology for depriving you of a third vision from your blade by appearing in its place. The vision would have revealed the Drakenfire Rings you now bear and the power they command when cast into flame. A molten dragon will rise at your call should the need ever come. I advise testing it outside of the library."
The woman turned to Hyran, Nova still speaking in her place.
"Master Mages, Hyran Drakonis and Aeron Lancaster. It is an honor to stand before you."
Her gaze shifted slightly, and Nova's voice carried the woman's words.
"Ashbane should not possess such power. Nova's power remains bound. When I struck his tendrils, a fragment of her strength returned to her. The connection is undeniable."
"As we speak, Ashbane has regained consciousness. He will assemble another party within the coming days, and he hunts the same items you seek. Unbinding her power is the highest priority for both Redmoon and Shadowclaw, for reasons far beyond this moment."
The woman's eyes settled on Elle.
"You are beautiful and fiercely devoted just as your mother. My daughter is blessed that you are in her life. Unfortunately, neither of you possess even the most basic understanding of dagger work or standard attack protocol."
Elle lowered her gaze, bracing for the rest.
"Your daggers are not ornaments to be worn for decoration. Neither of you shifted. Both of your wolves could have outrun his tendrils and his magic. You both had the widest opening to strike Ashbane, and yet you failed, and you allowed yourselves to be trapped."
The woman's tone hardened.
"For mages trained in physical combat or wolves who wield magic, as Ashbane does, the dagger is your opening move. Always. Magic second. If you are overpowered, shift. Hesitation is not a luxury afforded to either of you."
Her gaze softened but her voice still carried reprimand.
"Consider yourselves fortunate to receive this counsel and please repeat that to her. You both will return to basic combat drills and dagger-throwing until the lesson finally takes root. Use your minds and stop choosing weakness."
Her attention shifted to Cael.
"You would have perished long before I arrived today. Have your mate mark you. And if the Moon Goddess asks, you did not hear that from me."
She looked at Marra next.
"To the finest Gamma Luna in Varos. Clever, capable, and every inch your mother's daughter. You have clearly learned well from House Fang and honor Michael. He offers a message that the missing piece lies within this very library. Go to your old spot with Nova to retrieve it."
Her expression sharpened, and Nova's voice carried the next words.
"This will require a full team. You will need Hyran, Gamma Thorne, Alpha Shadowclaw, and Beta Luna Valehart. Nova must be present for the object to reveal itself. But it must not touch her. The sooner all are informed, the better. Do not allow your soul tie in the chamber or anywhere near it during the process. It may be completed as early as tonight."
"You stand exactly where you are meant to stand, and your best days are ahead. Please remember your value. The Gamma's ancestors made a judgement based on your bond strength. At that moment, they did not judge based on your character or capabilities. That is their folly and everyone in this room would agree to that."
The woman's tone grew louder, more fierce, like she wanted this message to hit.
"This team needs your brilliant mind. Once you are no longer compromised, they will be free to give you every piece of information. You will see something no one else can."
A faint ghost of a smirk touched the woman's lips.
"Do not tell the Moon Goddess I said that."
Marra blinked, composed.
Rex swallowed, the name Michael still ringing in his ears. His best friend's death was something he buried in the back of his mind and never wanted to think of. He looked at Marra from across the lake, concerned.
Hyran and Redmoon also both looked at her with genuine concern. The three of them realized she had been carrying something alone, and by the sounds of it, she'd accepted a sad fate. None of them would allow that to happen.
The woman's attention shifted to Fin and Jax, and Nova's transformed voice carried her words.
"Still severed I'm afraid. The Moon Goddess warned me about the two of you. 'Toddlers with swords,' that was the phrase I received. After observing your performance, I must revise it. Toddlers without swords."
Her gaze sharpened.
"Why did neither of you pause to survey the situation? Had either of you thrown your blade at Ashbane, it would have slowed his tendrils long enough for the six of you to overpower him."
"She will need to perform the next task tomorrow. No waiting. No rest. No duty takes precedence. One of you will need to be present."
Her voice deepened and she looked at Fin directly.
"Ragnar has been an alpha longer than you have drawn breath, and Hyran's training was completed on a different continent than Aeron's upbringing. Their magic complements one another."
She paused, the air tightening around her words.
"Moving forward, please share information. You will require Redmoon to succeed and protect Shadowclaw. If Shadowclaw falls, the enemy will come directly for Redmoon. Redmoon will fall victim to the same fate as Moonveil did. It's not just Ashbane you are up against."
She turned back to the group.
"It is time for everyone in this room to reach the same understanding. One team. Shared information. Marra, step out until you are healed."
Her voice carried the weight of final judgment.
"Failure is not an option. This assistance will not be granted twice."
The vision flickered out. Nova's eyes flashed green. She pressed a hand to her forehead as a sharp, crushing pain shot through her skull. It was deep and sudden that it tore a gasp from her.
Fin, Jax and Rex all felt it as if their own heads were hurting.
Nova's knees buckled and Fin caught her before she collapsed, sweeping her into his arms as her eyes fluttered closed.