Aiden stood at the edge of the clearing, the wind carrying the faint scent of rain and blood. The weight of the night's events pressed heavily on his shoulders, but his resolve only hardened. The shadows of the forest seemed to whisper warnings of the trials yet to come, but Aiden embraced the uncertainty. There was no turning back now.
Liam's voice echoed faintly in his mind, calm but urgent. "You've rattled the Court, but they won't retreat easily. Be prepared for their retaliation. And remember, the ritual isn't just dangerous—it's desperate. They're cornered, which makes them more unpredictable."
Aiden exhaled slowly, running a hand through his white hair as his golden eyes scanned the dark horizon. The ritual was an imminent threat, but tracking it would require precision, resources, and time—luxuries they didn't have in abundance. He knew the Court would strike back before they had the chance to gather the intelligence they needed. They always did.
