LYRA'S POV
(TWO WEEKS AFTER COUNCIL APPROVAL)
Word spread fast.
The marked Queen trained eight corrupted wolves to mastery. Eight successes. Zero casualties. A sanctuary where monsters became students.
The gates had been busy ever since.
"Another one," the guard announced. "That makes twelve in two weeks."
I looked at the young wolf standing at the castle entrance. Maybe nine years old. Runes that shifted between colors I'd never seen. His eyes held the familiar mix of hope and terror.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"Nyx. I'm shadow-corrupted. Different than the other boy—mine eats memories instead of light." His voice was small. "My village says I'm stealing their pasts. They want me executed."
"You're not being executed. Come inside." I gestured to Maya. "Get him settled. Food, bath, room. Then we'll assess his corruption."
"Lyra," Maya said quietly. "We now have twenty students. The original eight plus twelve new arrivals. We don't have enough trainers—"
