"Secrets are shadows that lengthen in silence until someone dares to light the flame."
3rd POV
The moon hung pale above the palace, a thin sickle casting its light across the spires of the Northern Kingdom. From her chamber balcony, Luna Seraphine observed the glow with narrow eyes. The night air was sharp, heavy with secrets. Behind her, shadows stretched long across the chamber floor where her inner circle had gathered: Nyra Valehart, Gideon Stormclaw, Thalia Ravenshade, Darian Frostmoor, and Selene Duskbane. They waited, silent but watchful, the weight of unspoken questions pressing down on them all. A knock echoed at the door. Gideon shifted first, his massive frame tense as his hand moved to the hilt of his blade. Nyra gave him a slight shake of the head before striding forward with feline grace to open it.
A young sentry stumbled in, breathless with haste. He bowed deeply.
"My lady," he said. "News from the outer gates."
