Seraphina hurried back toward the Auria territory, the memory of Damian's smirk lingering in her mind like an unspoken spell. The forest seemed to close in around her as she retraced her steps, the shadows stretching long and thin in the moonlight. Despite her outward composure during their encounter, her thoughts were a whirlwind. Why had he let her go? And why had she felt that inexplicable pull toward him?
The whispers of the forest grew louder, a mixture of rustling leaves and the soft hum of nocturnal life. She reached the border marked by the Elder Willow, its gnarled roots twisting out of the earth like ancient fingers. As she stepped across the invisible line, the oppressive tension of Noctis magic eased, replaced by the familiar warmth of Auria's protective enchantments.
Her best friend, Lila, was waiting for her just inside the coven's boundary. The petite witch had her arms crossed, her fiery red curls catching the moonlight. "Seraphina Thorne, what in the name of all that's enchanted were you doing over there?"
Seraphina sighed, brushing dirt off her cloak. "Moonflowers."
"Moonflowers?" Lila raised an eyebrow, skepticism lacing her voice. "You couldn't have picked a more dangerous place to find them?"
"I didn't exactly plan to run into anyone," Seraphina replied, avoiding her friend's piercing gaze.
Lila narrowed her eyes. "You ran into someone?"
Seraphina hesitated. She knew Lila wouldn't let this go. "A warlock from Noctis," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lila gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "You didn't—Seraphina, you know how dangerous they are! What if it had been one of the elders? They'd have—"
"They didn't," Seraphina interrupted, her tone sharper than intended. "It wasn't an elder. He… he let me go."
Lila blinked in disbelief. "He let you go? Just like that?"
"Yes," Seraphina said, though the truth of it still baffled her. "I don't know why. He even warned me about the curse."
Lila shook her head, her expression a mix of worry and disbelief. "This isn't good. If the elders find out you crossed the boundary, you'll be in more trouble than you can handle. You know how they are about Noctis."
Seraphina sighed, the weight of the evening settling on her shoulders. "I know. And I don't plan on telling anyone."
Lila opened her mouth to argue but stopped when the faint sound of footsteps reached their ears. Both witches turned toward the sound, their hearts pounding.
"Seraphina? Lila?" A familiar voice called out.
Relief washed over Seraphina as she recognized the voice of Elder Mirabel, one of the kindest and most understanding members of the Auria coven. Mirabel stepped into view, her silver hair glinting in the moonlight.
"What are you two doing out here so late?" Mirabel asked, her sharp blue eyes scanning their faces.
"Just collecting moonflowers," Seraphina said quickly, holding up her empty satchel as proof.
Mirabel frowned. "At this hour? The forest is no place for young witches after dark, especially near the boundary."
"We were careful," Lila chimed in, her tone overly bright. "We stayed together the whole time."
Mirabel studied them for a moment before nodding. "Good. But be sure to return before the moon's zenith next time. The magic in these woods grows restless at night."
"Yes, Elder Mirabel," they said in unison, bowing their heads respectfully.
As Mirabel walked away, Seraphina let out a quiet sigh of relief. "That was close."
"Too close," Lila muttered. "Come on, let's get back before anyone else catches us."
The two witches hurried toward the coven's village, a collection of charming stone cottages surrounded by protective runes etched into the ground. As they passed through the main square, the glow of lanterns cast a warm light over the cobblestones. Most of the coven was already asleep, but a few witches lingered, chatting softly or tending to late-night tasks.
Seraphina reached her cottage and pushed the door open, exhaustion weighing heavily on her. "Goodnight, Lila," she said, stepping inside.
"Goodnight," Lila replied, though her tone hinted that the conversation was far from over.
Once alone, Seraphina sank onto her bed, her thoughts drifting back to Damian. His amber eyes, his cryptic words—everything about him felt like a puzzle she was meant to solve. But why?
She shook her head, pushing the thoughts aside. There was no room for curiosity about a warlock, especially one from Noctis. Yet, as sleep claimed her, her dreams were filled with shadows, whispers, and a pair of glowing amber eyes.
The next morning, the village buzzed with activity. Preparations for the autumn solstice were in full swing, with witches bustling about, gathering herbs and weaving garlands of enchanted flowers. Seraphina joined in, hoping to distract herself from the events of the previous night.
As she worked alongside Lila, plucking lavender from a nearby field, she couldn't help but notice the tension in the air. It was subtle but undeniable—a sense of unease that seemed to ripple through the coven.
"Do you feel that?" Seraphina asked, her voice low.
Lila nodded, her expression grim. "Something's off. The elders have been on edge all morning."
Before Seraphina could reply, a loud bell rang out from the central tower. The witches around them froze, their gazes snapping toward the sound.
"An emergency council meeting," Lila whispered.
Seraphina's stomach tightened. Emergency meetings were rare, and they were never a good sign.
The witches gathered in the square, their murmurs filling the air as the elders emerged from the council hall. Elder Mirabel stood at the front, her usually warm expression replaced with a stern intensity.
"Last night," Mirabel began, her voice carrying over the crowd, "a magical disturbance was detected near the boundary."
Seraphina's heart skipped a beat. She glanced at Lila, who looked equally alarmed.
"This disturbance was not caused by natural forces," Mirabel continued. "It was the work of a Noctis warlock."
The crowd erupted into whispers, anger and fear rippling through the witches.
"We must remain vigilant," Mirabel said, her tone firm. "The curse grows restless, and the actions of the Noctis coven cannot be ignored. Until further notice, no one is to approach the boundary."
As the meeting ended, Seraphina felt a wave of guilt crash over her. The disturbance had been her encounter with Damian—of that, she was certain. And now, her actions had put the entire coven on high alert.
"Seraphina," Lila whispered, pulling her aside. "This is bad. Really bad."
"I know," Seraphina said, her voice shaking. "But I didn't do anything to provoke him. He… he warned me, Lila. He didn't attack."
"Try telling that to the elders," Lila said, her tone bitter. "You have to stay away from the boundary from now on. No more risks."
Seraphina nodded, but deep down, she wasn't sure she could keep that promise. Something about Damian—about the pull she felt toward him—was too strong to ignore.
As the witches dispersed, Seraphina made her way back to her cottage, her mind racing. She needed answers. About Damian, about the curse, about the strange connection she felt to him.
And she knew the only way to find them was to venture back into the shadows of the forest, no matter the risk.