Chapter 171

CHAPTER 15… VALENTINA The moment the entity spoke something inside me curled in on itself. Late for what? Late for who? What's going on?— questions slammed within me like a rock. My heart thrashed against my ribs, every pulse echoing with the thrum of the Moonwell. Andres stood like a wall in front of me, shielding me with his body as if he could protect me from light itself. I wasn’t even sure he could. Not from this. Not from me. “Andres…” My fingers clutched the back of his shirt, the fabric damp with sweat. “I don’t like this.” I whispered. He didn’t look back at me, but his hand caught mine, squeezing so tightly it almost hurt. “I know. Stay behind me.” But the air disagreed. It pushed me forward — a pull deep in my bones, like fingers hooking into my soul. ‘Come.’ The pull whispered. ‘Come, Moonborn.’ My veins burned again. Painful and alive. Kira whined inside me, terrified. Veraka growled in defiance and between them, something new stirred — a third pulse, a third rhythm, a thi