Page 117 of The Blood Moon Oath

Finn nods slowly. “I’ve been looking into old texts. There’s precedent for harnessing power through elemental sources, but it would require collective participation. Convincing the tribe will be the real challenge.”

Kael exhales sharply, his fingers tightening on hisforearms. “Convincing them is one thing. Ensuring it holds without fracturing the tribes is another.”

Before I can respond, the door bursts open, and Torin strides in, grinning from ear to ear. “Hey, kitten,” he announces, his voice loud and cheerful in contrast to the somber atmosphere of the room. “We’ve got visitors. You’re going to love this.”

I sit up straighter, narrowing my eyes at him. “What kind of visitors?”

“The interesting kind,” he says with a wink, stepping aside to reveal two striking women and their entourage of warlocks trailing behind them.

I don’t recognize either of them. The woman at the front, dark hair cascading over her shoulders, scans the room with piercing eyes that seem to weigh and measure everything she sees. Beside her stands another woman, older, with regal silver streaks in her hair. There’s a stillness about her, a presence that speaks of someone who commands respect without having to ask for it.

Behind them stand four warlocks, each radiating their own kind of power. One carries an edge of tightly controlled menace, his sharp features cutting as if carved from stone. Another stands with a confident smirk, like the whole situation is an amusing game. The other two are more restrained, their gazes steady and assessing, taking in every detail of the room. They move like a unit, their postures relaxed but ready—dangerous in their unity, like a blade held just before the strike.

Kael rises immediately, his shoulders squaring as his icy gaze locks onto the newcomers. He doesn’t say a word, but the tension in the air is palpable. Finn straightens from where he’s been leaning against the wall, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, his expression unreadable. Even Torin, who rarely takesanything seriously, narrows his eyes slightly, though he still sprawls casually in his seat, one leg hooked over the armrest.

The woman with the dark hair steps forward, her lips curving into a small, controlled smile. “You must be Sable,” she says, her tone confident but not unkind.

I glance at Kael, who doesn’t move, then at Finn, whose eyes are sharp and watchful. “And you are?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady despite the sudden heaviness in the room.

“Selene,” she says simply. She gestures to the regal woman beside her. “This is Isadora. And we’ve come to make you an offer.”

Torin snorts, breaking the tension with his usual bravado. “An offer? You’re going to have to do better than that, sweetheart. Who are you, and why are you dragging your warlocks into our home without so much as a knock?”

Selene’s smile doesn’t waver, though her gaze sharpens. “I believe this is less your home and more hers,” she says, nodding toward me.

Torin raises his hands in mock surrender. “Fair point. But the least you could do is explain yourselves before making declarations.”

Isadora steps forward then, her voice low and calm but commanding. “I am one of the Mothers,” she says, her gaze sweeping over the room. “And we’re here because Sable is at a crossroads. A choice must be made.”

The weight of her words settles over me, and I feel the bonds to Kael, Finn, and Torin stir faintly, a reminder of the life I’ve been building here. “What kind of choice?” I ask cautiously.

Selene steps closer, her piercing eyes locking onto mine. “It’s about your powers, Sable. What they mean—not just for you, but for every witch and warlock alive today.”

Her words hang in the air, heavy with implication, and for the first time, I feel a creeping sense that whatever this is, it’s going to change everything.

I glance between them, unsure whether to feel intrigued or on edge. “An offer?”

Isadora’s lips curve into a faint smile. “You’ve awakened something extraordinary, Sable. Your powers are unique, and they make you...vulnerable. We’re establishing a place where witches like you can learn to harness their abilities safely. A sanctuary, of sorts.”

My heart skips a beat, but before I can respond, Finn cuts in, his voice sharp. “She doesn’t need your academy. I’ve been training her myself.”

Adrian steps forward, his cool demeanor a sharp contrast to Finn’s defensiveness. “Finn, you’ve done well, but you know there’s a limit to what you can teach her.”

Finn’s eyes narrow, and I sense a storm brewing. “And you think you can do better? After all this time, you show up here with your self-righteous nonsense?—”

“Enough,” Kael says, his tone low but firm. His presence alone is enough to quiet the room, though tension still simmers beneath the surface.

Selene takes a step closer, her expression gentle but determined. “Sable, this isn’t about taking you away. It’s about giving you the tools you need to survive. You’ve seen firsthand what happens when warlocks sense your power. The academy can prepare you for the dangers that lie ahead.”

I hesitate, glancing at Finn. His jaw tightens, and I feel his frustration through the bond. “I don’t want to leave,” I say quietly. “I’ve only just found my place here.”

Kael steps forward, his gaze softening as he looks at me. “You won’t be leaving, not really. Torin and I will go with you.”

My eyes widen. “What about the northern tribes?”

Finn’s voice is cold, his words clipped. “I’ll stay behind. Someone has to keep order here.”

I shake my head, torn. “No. I don’t want to split us up.”

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