anwhile, Autumn still lay motionless on the bed, her skin pale.
Every breath she took seed like a negotiation with death itself...each one shallow, too soft, too slow.
Niva and Serra stood beside her, talking in whispers. They hadn’t left Autumn’s side even for a second, least any further harm ca her way!
"I still don’t understand how this could have happened under our roof," Serra murmured, arms folded across her chest. "There were wards around the castle... protective runes in every corridor.We always take special asures when there is any party because there is a big chance of enemies coming disguised as friends.We even have wards for our drinks so nobody gets a chance to poison...Sothing like this never happened and Velor does have many who want to kill him. I simply don’t understand how this happened with Autumn..."
Niva shook her head grimly, brushing Autumn’s forehead tenderly. "This was no ordinary curse. Whoever did this used a tether...a link so personal it bypassed everything we could have built."
Serra exhaled sharply through her nose."Kieran?"
Niva’s eyes flicked to her. "Or soone else who’s had skin to skin contact. Anyone that deep in her psyche... could have been used to open a gateway."
Before Serra could answer, the door slamd open.Mara burst in, breathless, her dress trailing behind like she had run up a mountain.
"Niva! A Seer has co to the gates!"
Both won turned at once.
"She says," Mara huffed, bracing herself against the doorfra, "she foresaw a death. A mother and her unborn children, here, in our pack. She ca to help. Says she must intervene...imdiately...or it may be too late."
Niva straightened. "A Seer?"
Serra’s brow furrowed. "Who let her near our gates?"
"She didn’t break through. She is waiting. Very calm and respectful." Mara rushed to explain. "I ca straight to you. She is not demanding entry. She is... asking."
Niva hesitated for a long beat. "Mara, you know we don’t have the authority to allow unknown witches or Seers past the gate. That’s Velor’s call."
"I know," Mara said, sinking into the chair at the corner. She grabbed a pitcher and poured herself a glass of water with trembling hands. "But that’s just it. The Betas have already tried contacting him. Repeatedly. His mind link is dead. Inaccessible."
Niva’s lips parted. "What?"
"So, they told the guards to forward the ssage to us. The next in command."
Niva’s face grew taut. She exchanged a glance with Serra.
"The Seer says ti is crucial in this case," Mara added softly, clutching the glass in both hands. "If she doesn’t intervene now... we will definitely lose the mother and the children."
Silence filled the room again.
Niva’s lips pressed into a thin line. "Let try reaching Velor."
She turned, closing her eyes. Her lips parted slightly as she opened the link of command in her mind.
"Alpha. Can you hear ? Velor, it’s urgent. Please respond."
Nothing.
Serra stepped forward, already attempting the sa.
"Alpha Velor. Autumn is deteriorating. We have a Seer at our gates. She says she can help.Says she saw death. Should we let her in? Velor, please answer."
Still, nothing.
Niva’s jaw clenched. "Where the hell did Velor go? Why the hell is his mind link not accessible! It’s an ergency! He should have known...damn it..." Looking at the two of her co-wives ,she added, "Try again."
All three won took turns.No answer.
And then suddenly... a guard ca skidding into the room, his weapons almost clanking as he maintained his balance. "The Seer says she will leave if denied access and never co back. But she won’t wait any longer.She says that her work must not interfere with free will."
"What’s her na?" Niva asked sharply.
"She didn’t give it."
Serra looked at Autumn. Then at the mirror tray where her blood test still shimred with that cursed crescent moon dripping.
Niva’s gaze snapped back to Autumn...pale, still, her chest barely rising.
But just then...Autumn’s body jerked.
A violent spasm wracked her fra, her back arching off the bed. Before anyone could react, she levitated, rising into the air as if pulled by invisible strings.
Niva and Serra lunged, grabbing her arms, her shoulders...but the force lifting her was too strong. Their feet left the ground, their grips slipping as they, too, were dragged upward.
"MARA!" Niva scread, her voice now raw with panic. "GET THE SEER...NOW!Soone call the healer and the witches too. "
Mara did not hesitate.
She ran.
She threw the door open with enough force to rattle the hinges and ran like hell was chasing her .
Mara’s lungs burned as she sprinted through the courtyard.The guards stationed there stiffened at her frantic approach, but she did not slow down or stop.
She almost collided with the gates, her fingers curling around the cold tal.
"Open them!" she gasped, her voice ragged.
The guards exchanged glances. "Luna Mara, protocol requires us to..."
"I SAID OPEN THEM!It’s a direct command. Can’t you hear, thick heads?!" she shrieked.
The gates groaned as they swung inward, and Mara’s wild eyes locked onto the figure standing just beyond.
The Seer.
She was cloaked in midnight black robes, her face obscured by the veil of the hood. She stood unnervingly still, her posture serene, as if she had been waiting for this exact mont.
Mara did not hesitate. She lunged forward, seizing the Seer’s wrist. " Please," she begged, her voice cracking. "Co inside. And help us however you can. Autumn is...I an the mother...she is floating..."
The Seer tilted her head as if amused...as if Mara had just cracked a joke or sothing like that. "Floating?"
"Yes! Levitating! And we can’t...we can not stop her..." Mara tugged her forward, her pulse hamring. "Please hurry!"
The Seer allowed herself to be pulled. Her steps were unnaturally soundless, her robes whispered against the ground and one lone crow hovered above her, gliding in perfect circles as if it belonged to her shadow.
And as they stepped inside the main castle,it let out a sharp, grating caw... that reverberated.
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