The forest swallowed Serin's silver glow as soon as Lira and Kael ran. The trees closed behind them like a curtain, leaving only darkness and the faint echo of the Shadehound's distant howl.
Lira's breath came fast, her heart pounding not just from fear — but from the weight of what Serin had said.
Astra.
Starborn.
A bridge between worlds.
Kael kept her close, his hand wrapped firmly around hers as they moved through the underbrush. His grip was warm, grounding, but she could feel the tension in it — the questions he wasn't asking yet.
When they finally slowed, Kael guided her beneath a cluster of low branches, hidden from the open path.
"Rest," he said quietly.
Lira leaned against a tree, her legs trembling. "Kael… Serin knew me. Really knew me."
Kael's jaw tightened. "He knew Astra. Not you."
"But I was Astra," she whispered. "I lived that life. I loved people there. I died there."
Kael looked away, his expression shadowed. "And yet you're here. With a new life. A new name."
Lira swallowed. "Do you… wish I wasn't?"
Kael's head snapped toward her, eyes fierce. "No. Never."
The intensity in his voice made her chest tighten.
But before she could speak, the air shifted — a cold ripple, like breath on the back of her neck.
Kael stiffened. "Something's coming."
Lira's mark pulsed in warning.
Kael drew his blade, stepping in front of her. "Stay behind me."
But the presence that emerged from the shadows wasn't the Shadehound.
It was Serin.
Their silver glow had dimmed, their breathing uneven. They leaned heavily on their staff.
"Serin!" Lira rushed forward, but Kael caught her arm.
"Careful," he warned.
Serin lifted a hand weakly. "It's all right. The Shadehound… it's stronger than I expected."
Lira's heart lurched. "You fought it alone?"
"I held it back," Serin said, voice strained. "But it will break through the barrier soon."
Kael stepped forward, blade still raised. "Why follow us? You said you'd hold it off."
Serin's gaze flicked to him. "Because she needs to hear the rest."
Lira's breath caught. "The rest of what?"
Serin looked at her — really looked — and Lira felt the weight of centuries in their eyes.
"Astra," Serin said softly, "you didn't just fall through the Veil. You were pushed."
Lira froze. "What?"
Kael's grip tightened on his sword. "Explain."
Serin took a shaky breath. "The ChronoGate didn't collapse on its own. Someone sabotaged it. Someone who wanted Astra gone."
Lira's pulse quickened. "Who?"
Serin hesitated — and that hesitation terrified her.
"Someone from your world," Serin said. "Someone who followed you here."
Lira's blood ran cold. "Followed me…?"
Kael stepped closer to her, protective. "Who is it?"
Serin's voice dropped to a whisper.
"The prince."
Lira's breath stopped.
Kael's eyes widened. "Impossible. The prince was born here."
"No," Serin said. "He wasn't."
The forest seemed to tilt around them.
Serin continued, voice trembling. "He was once a scientist. A brilliant one. Obsessed with rewriting time. Obsessed with power. When the ChronoGate collapsed, he crossed the Veil… and became the prince of this world."
Lira shook her head. "No. No, that can't be true."
Serin stepped closer. "He knew Astra's power. He knew your soul could stabilize the Veil. He needed you gone — or under his control."
Kael's voice was low, dangerous. "Why would he want her dead?"
Serin met Lira's gaze. "Because you were the only one who could stop him."
Lira's knees weakened. Kael caught her before she fell.
Serin pressed on. "He sent the Shadehound. He summoned it with your name. And he will keep hunting you until he has what he wants."
Lira's voice trembled. "What does he want?"
Serin's expression darkened. "Your power. Your memories. Your soul."
Kael pulled Lira closer, fury burning in his eyes. "He will not touch her."
Serin nodded. "Then you must reach the cliffs before he does. There, the Veil will show you the truth — all of it."
Lira swallowed hard. "And if I'm not ready?"
Serin's voice softened. "You will be. Because you must be."
A distant howl tore through the night — louder, closer, furious.
Serin's eyes widened. "It's here."
Kael grabbed Lira's hand. "We run."
Serin lifted their staff, silver light flaring. "Go. I'll hold it back again."
Lira shook her head. "Serin, you'll die!"
Serin smiled faintly. "I already did, Astra. This is borrowed time."
Lira's heart cracked.
Kael pulled her away. "Lira — now."
She hesitated only a moment.
Then she ran.
The forest blurred around them, the Shadehound's howl shaking the air.
Behind them, Serin's silver light clashed with darkness.
And Lira felt it — the truth she had feared:
The past wasn't done with her.
And the prince wasn't just her enemy.
He was the one who killed her.