{AURORA'S POV}
My breath caught in my throat.
I was sprawled on top of him, on top of the hunter. His chest rose and fell beneath me, and our faces were mere inches apart, so close that his breath fanned warm against my lips.
For a heartbeat, I forgot where I was.
His brown hair, damp with sweat, clung in loose curls around his forehead. His amber eyes, luminous and dangerous, stared into mine without wavering. His jaw was sharp, as if sculpted like it had been cut from marble, and there was a faint scar just beneath his cheekbone. And then his lips… his lips were full, and soft.
He was beautiful in a way that felt unfair, cruel even, considering what he is.
My heart hammered louder than the chaos outside. And when his gaze dropped, sliding from my eyes to linger on my lips, time seemed to come to a halt around us.
I was frozen, unable to move.
Then his mouth parted, and the last thing I expected came out.
"Go."
I blinked, my brows knitting together. "What?"
"I SAID GO!" His voice was sharp now, almost desperate. "Get out of here while you still can."
The spell broke. I scrambled off him as he sat up, his amber eyes flicking to the street where shouts and steel clashed. Slowly, I backed away. My throat was dry, my voice caught in it, but still I whispered, almost as if asking for permission.
"Why?"
But he didn't answer me. He just sat there and looked away.
I stood frozen for a breath longer, staring after him, before Eris's scream snapped me back to reality.
"Aurora! Where in the gods' name have you been?!"
I stumbled toward them, words fumbling on my tongue. "I–I was—"
Vivienne cut in, her voice sharp and urgent. "Save it. If we don't leave now, our heads will be decorating stakes by sunrise."
Kai's voice rang out. "Everyone, get back!"
We obeyed.
He stretched his hands out, summoning what was a gentle breeze at first. But as he moved his arms in a snake-like pattern, the air started bending and twisting to his will, a whirlwind forming with a low, furious howl. Dust and debris lifted from the ground, swirling around us.
"Cover your eyes," he ordered.
I threw up my hands just as he slammed his palms together. The wind exploded outward in a violent blast. Cries rang out as the Severance staggered, clutching their eyes and coughing, blinded by the storm Kai conjured.
"Run!"
And we did.
Through alleys, across fields, until the lights of Ivarra vanished and the dark embrace of the forest swallowed us whole.
We didn't stop. We didn't look back until our legs gave way beneath us and our lungs burned.
"Oh my—Kai!" I gasped, staring at the deep gash on his arm, blood soaking through his sleeve.
He glanced at it and chuckled breathlessly. "It's nothing. I've had worse."
"That's not nothing," Eris snapped. "If we don't get you back to Nevermoor soon, you'll bleed out."
So we walked, weary, dragging our feet over roots and stones until the arch of entwined trees finally appeared.
Nevermoor's threshold.
Relief washed over me like water to parched lips. But the feeling disappeared the instant we crossed.
Because she was waiting.
Morganna. Lantern in hand, her silver hair glowing in its light, her eyes blazing with fury. Beside her stood Rhea, disappointment etched into every line of her face.
"And where are the four of you coming from?" Morganna's voice cracked like a whip.
"We um… we were just—" Eris started, laughing nervously.
"We went to Ivarra for the Moonlight Festival." I blurted out before I could stop myself.
Morganna's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"We didn't mean for anything bad to happen," I added quickly, staring at the ground. "But… we ran into trouble."
Rhea's voice was softer, but the weight behind it was worse. "What kind of trouble?"
"Witch hunters," Vivienne muttered.
"Have the four of you gone mad?!" Morganna's voice echoed through the trees. "You know the rules! You can't just leave Nevermoor whenever it suits you. Do you understand the risk you've placed upon every soul here? Hundreds of witches live in this sanctuary. One mistake—one silly mistake and you could bring The Severance straight to our home!"
Her fury made me shrink, but then her eyes snapped to Kai's wound. She pinched the bridge of her nose with a groan. "Of course. Injured too. Rhea, please take him to the healers before he bleeds out."
As Kai was ushered forward, he called back, his voice defiant even through his exhaustion. "But you should've seen her in action, Morganna. She's strong."
"She's got potential," Eris added, breathless. "She copied one of my spells perfectly on her first try. One that took me months to master."
Rhea paused, her eyes narrowing on me. "Aurora… you can cast spells?"
I hesitated, staring at my hands. "I guess so."
Her lips curved in the faintest smile. "Do you remember when I asked what kind of witch you were?"
"Yes?"
"I didn't tell you the full truth then because I thought you'd learn everything with time here at Nevermoor. Witches are divided into many kinds, though the two most common are Kaelith and Noctyra. Kaelith can harness only one ability while Noctyra can harness two."
"There are five abilities," Morganna said. "Clairvoyance, healing, manifestation by incantation, elementcraft and necromancy."
Rhea's eyes softened as she looked at me. "You've already shown two. Manifestation and elementcraft."
Kai, pale but grinning, managed to lift his head. "You can control the elements too?"
"Yes," I whispered, flashes of fire and the smell of burnt flesh and blood from my village searing across my mind.
I swallowed hard. "Is it possible for anyone to wield more than two?"
The two elder witches exchanged a glance, their silence speaking louder than words.
Finally Rhea said flatly, "No. Such a person exists only in myths."
My chest tightened. I nodded.
Rhea tugged Kai's arm. "Come now, before you bleed out entirely."
"Go," Morganna ordered the rest of us. "Rest, and think carefully before disobeying me again.
We turned, tired and ready to retreat to our quarters.
But then came a sound.
Leaves rustling. Heavy footsteps pressing through the undergrowth.
We stopped in our tracks.
Morganna's fingers sparked to life with magic. Vivienne and Eris raised their hands, spells ready. Kai clenched his fist, flames roaring to life despite the wound.
The steps grew louder and closer.
My eyes darted around the shadows, my pulse roaring in my ears.
"There." I whispered, pointing in the direction the moment I could make out a tall figure hidden in the shadows beneath the trees.
Shadows stretched unnaturally as we paused, holding our breaths. Every snapping twig underfoot felt amplified. And then, he stepped into the lantern's glow.
Tall and broad shouldered, his amber eyes caught the lantern light.
The air left my lungs and my heart stopped beating altogether.
My lips parted, voice barely a whisper.
"Darius Fane."