Chapter 121. The Shadow Cast by the Moon

Astrid

The morning sun had barely come up when I heard a knock at the door. I dragged myself out of bed, the remnants of last night's full moon celebration still lingering in my bones. The memory of the event hung heavy in my mind: the music, the laughter, and the sight of Magnus across the room, his presence as intoxicating as ever. Yet, it was the encounter with the older man in the forest that truly haunted me. Shaking off the thoughts, I opened the door to find Meredith standing there, her expression unreadable.

"Astrid, we need to talk," she said, pushing past me and into the living room without waiting for an invitation. Her usual aura of calm was absent, replaced by a jittery energy that set my nerves on edge.

"Good morning to you, too," I muttered, closing the door and following her. "What's so urgent that it couldn't wait?"

Meredith waited to answer. She paced the room, her fingers twitching as if she were weaving invisible spells in the air. Her dar