The sky groaned.
A second tear sliced across the heavens like a bleeding wound, its edges raw with crimson flame. The stars blinked out, swallowed by an unnatural eclipse as blood-red light spilled across the landscape. The Watchers froze, their veiled heads tilting skyward in synchronized unease. The air thickened, as though time itself held its breath.
Aria's heart thundered. She barely heard the murmurs rising around her—Solene's sharp intake of breath, the scrambling footsteps of the Nightfall wolves, Rowan's raspy, unnatural breathing behind her. But all her focus had narrowed to one figure.
Caleb.
He lay in the scorched earth, trembling violently, his hands clawing at the dirt. Silver blood wept from his nose, his eyes fluttering open in flashes of alien light.
"No—no, no, stay with me!" Aria dropped to her knees beside him, her fingers cupping his cheek, cool and damp. "Caleb! Can you hear me? Look at me."
