Chapter 25. A Blade Between Blood

The sky had not yet begun to pale when Seraya received the news.

Rael was missing.

He had ridden out before dawn with a vanguard through the southern break, following the remnants of the flame-beast’s trail. It was meant to be routine—a clean-up run, a reassurance patrol meant to calm nerves and close wounds left open by the attack.

It was not.

By first light, only one horse returned.

No rider.

Rael’s cloak hung from the saddle, soaked through with blood, dark and heavy like wine spilled across snow.

“He’s alive,” Seraya said at once.

Mairead stood beside her at the edge of the field, ash still cli