Dawn had never felt so thin.
The light that filtered through the trees was pale and shaky, like it couldn't fully commit to being day yet. Mist rolled low across the moss. The cold pressed against their clothes, making Kanah wrap her arms around herself as they prepared to move.
Owain was already awake — of course — pacing the perimeter like a wolf circling a den he wasn't sure was safe anymore.
He didn't like the smell of the air.
He didn't like how the attacked creatures had moved in formation.
He didn't like how the Architect had found them so easily.
But most of all…
He didn't like how Kanah's hands were trembling as she knotted the straps of her pack.
He approached silently and placed his hand over hers.
Kanah looked up. Her breath hitched slightly.
"You're shaking," he murmured.
"No," she whispered, forcing a smile, "I'm just—cold."
Owain didn't believe her.
But he didn't push it yet.
He simply laced his fingers with hers, steady, warm.
Kanah leaned lightly against him, letting his warmth soak into her bones.
Yllas stepped closer, clearing his throat.
"We need to move. Now. That ambush last night wasn't random."
Gerrin nodded, his staff glowing faintly.
"Someone wants the Queen captured. Or dead."
Helion scoffed. "Right. Because what's life without a hundred assassins chasing us?"
Owain's lip curled. "Helion."
Helion raised both hands. "I'm calm! I'm calm! Just… stating facts!"
But Yllas was right — they had to keep moving.
Kanah took one last look at the grove. The moss was still stained dark from where the creatures had bled out. The trees looked more nervous than usual, leaves trembling as if remembering the conflict.
She swallowed hard.
"Let's go."
Owain kept close at her side.
Too close.
Yllas noticed and murmured quietly:
"Your instincts are climbing again."
Owain growled low. "They can climb all they want. I'm in control."
Kanah touched his arm gently. "I know you are."
He looked at her — and some of the tension melted.
Helion muttered under his breath, "She's the only one who can talk him down."
Gerrin responded softly, "And that's exactly what scares me."
On the Forest Path
The group moved south, leaves whispering like frightened voices overhead. The deeper they went, the more Kanah felt a hum in the air — like something calling to her.
She mentioned it quietly:
"Owain… do you feel that?"
"No."
Sharp. Immediate.
Then, softer:
"What do you feel?"
She closed her eyes.
"…It's like the forest is… speaking."
Helion snorted. "Queen perks."
Gerrin frowned. "Not perks. Resonance. The throne awakened her attunement."
Kanah tried to explain.
"It's like… something is tugging at me. Not painfully — just… guiding."
Owain stiffened.
"Where?"
She turned her head slowly, uncertain.
"…West."
Yllas followed her gaze.
"That leads toward the old borders."
Gerrin's expression darkened.
"That's not a place we want to go without preparation."
Kanah hugged herself.
"Should we ignore it?"
Owain answered instantly.
"Yes."
Gerrin hesitated.
"No."
Owain whipped around. "Excuse me?"
Gerrin rubbed his forehead.
"Owain, the Queen's resonance doesn't pull randomly. If she's feeling a direction, it means something — or someone — tied to her lineage is in that direction."
Kanah froze.
Owain's throat tightened.
"You mean her family."
The word family sat heavy.
Kanah's eyes widened.
"My… real family?"
Gerrin nodded.
"It's possible."
Owain's fists clenched.
The thought of someone having claim over her — someone who might believe they deserved her — set his instincts on fire.
But Kanah looked quietly shaken.
"Owain…
if my real family is here…
I want to know."
Owain swallowed.
His voice softened, rough with emotion.
"Then I'll take you."
She smiled faintly.
But Gerrin raised a hand.
"Wait."
The group paused.
Gerrin crouched and touched the ground.
He murmured:
"…Tracks."
Kanah crouched beside him.
"What kind?"
Gerrin stiffened.
"The same armored creatures from last night."
Owain snarled.
"How many?"
Gerrin's face paled.
"More than we can fight."
Helion cursed. "How many—"
Gerrin whispered:
"…an army."
Kanah's breath died.
Owain placed himself between her and the track marks.
"We leave," he said. "Now."
But Yllas knelt by the track patterns, tracing the symbol etched in the disturbed moss.
"Wait."
Owain glared. "Yllas—"
"This mark…" Yllas pointed. "It isn't random."
Kanah leaned closer.
"It's a crest."
Gerrin paled.
"That's a House crest."
Helion blinked.
"Which House?"
Yllas exhaled slowly.
"House Veylor."
Kanah frowned.
"Who is that…?"
Gerrin answered softly:
"One of the oldest beast houses ever recorded. Their bloodlines are tied to the first generation of shapeshifters. Warriors. Kings. Their magic is… ancient."
Helion added darkly:
"And they specialize in retrieving lost bloodlines."
Kanah's stomach dropped.
Owain growled low, stepping in front of her.
"You mean—"
Yllas nodded.
"Yes.
House Veylor thinks Kanah belongs to them."
Kanah inhaled sharply.
"Ow—O-Owain—"
He turned instantly, gripping her shoulders.
"They're wrong."
Tears trembled in her eyes.
"But what if they're not…?"
"They're wrong," he repeated fiercely.
"Owain—"
He cupped her face, forehead pressed to hers.
"I don't care who they think you are.
You choose who you belong to."
Her breath broke.
"And I choose you."
His expression softened — painfully, beautifully.
"Then that's the end of it."
But the forest did not agree.
Leaves rustled.
The air thickened.
The resonance tugged harder.
Yllas's wings rustled nervously.
"The House isn't far."
Kanah clutched Owain's sleeve.
"Owain… I'm scared."
He wrapped his arms around her immediately.
"I've got you."
Gerrin suddenly froze, eyes widening.
"Wait—
someone's coming."
Owain pulled Kanah behind him.
The group formed a defensive ring.
Kanah's heart pounded.
Through the trees, a figure stepped out—
For a moment Kanah thought it was another soldier.
But this figure—
Was alone.
Unarmored.
Ragged.
Breathing hard.
She stumbled forward, collapsing to her knees.
Yllas moved forward carefully.
"Who are you?"
The woman lifted her head.
Kanah gasped.
Her eyes—
Were gold.
Not Beast King gold.
Not throne gold.
Golden like Kanah's resonance.
The woman whispered hoarsely:
"You…
You're the lost daughter…"
Owain froze.
Kanah's mind blanked.
The woman sobbed.
"My Queen…
My blood…
My child…"
The world spun.
Kanah whispered:
"…Mother…?"
Owain's hands clenched violently at his sides.
Eyes widening.
Instinct rising.