The air was heavy with silence.
Elena stood before the council, tension pulsing in every heartbeat. "We need everyone focused. No distractions," she warned, her gaze sweeping over the younger members of the group.
Alina's stomach twisted.
That night, under the soft glow of the moon, she met Kai near the riverbank. They sat in silence at first, the sound of water filling the space between them.
"I can't keep hiding this," Alina said suddenly.
Kai turned to her, brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
She took a breath. "You and me. I've been lying to my mom. To Ethan. To everyone. We've been sneaking around like it's some kind of shame. But I… I care about you. And they need to know."
He looked down, the weight of her words sinking in. "Are you sure? If they find out I was once with the Flameborn—"
"I'm sure," she interrupted. "Because I don't care about who you were. I care about who you are now."
The next morning, during breakfast, Alina stood in front of her mother and Ethan. Her voice didn't shake.
"I have to tell you something. I've been seeing someone. His name is Kai."
The silence was immediate. Elena's expression was unreadable, but Ethan clenched his jaw.
"You're dating the boy we found in the woods?" he asked.
"Yes," Alina said, standing taller. "And I'm not going to hide it anymore."
Tension filled the room. But for the first time, Alina felt free.
Outside the cabin, hidden in the trees, a figure watched them. A mark on his wrist glowed faintly red.
The Flameborn were closer than anyone knew.