Chapter 8 - THE NIGHT THE DEAD RETURNEDThe hour passed like a heartbeat.
The city beneath the mountain came alive.
Wolves emerged from hidden tunnels.
Old warriors opened forgotten armories.
Black banners were lifted from towers untouched for twelve years.
Alora stood before the queen's throne.
She couldn't stop shaking.
“I don't know how to be a queen.”
Kael stood behind her.
“Neither did I.”
“That isn't comforting.”
“It was not intended to be.”
She almost smiled.
Then the first explosion shook the palace.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
The Emperor's army had reached the gates.
Kael drew his sword.
“Stay here.”
Alora turned.
“No.”
He looked at her.
“You're safer behind the walls.”
She stepped closer.
“I spent my whole life being told to stay behind someone.”
Her golden eyes met his.
“I'm done.”
Kael smiled.
Then he placed his sword in her hands.
She frowned.
“What are you doing?”
“Giving you the weapon of the king.”
“Why?”
“Because tonight, the kingdom has two rulers.”
Before Alora could answer, the palace doors exploded.
The battle began.
Soldiers poured inside.
Wolves tore through them.
Kael fought in front.
Alora followed.
She discovered something terrifying.
Whenever a wolf was wounded, she could feel it.
Whenever she touched one, the wound closed.
Her power grew.
With every injury, her eyes burned brighter.
The Emperor's soldiers began retreating.
Then the throne room went silent.
The High Priest entered.
He wore white robes.
No armor.
No weapon.
Only a silver staff.
He looked old.
Too old.
But his eyes were sharp.
Alora knew him immediately.
He was the man from her vision.
The one standing beside the Emperor.
Kael raised his sword.
“You should have stayed hidden.”
The High Priest smiled.
“You have no idea how long I have waited.”
He looked at Alora.
“My queen.”
“I am not your queen.”
“Not yet.”
He lifted his staff.
The room changed.
Every wolf collapsed.
Kael fell.
Alora screamed.
“What did you do?”
The High Priest smiled.
“Ancient magic.”
He walked toward her.
“The same magic that created your bloodline.”
Alora's body froze.
“You.”
“Yes.”
“You knew my parents.”
“Yes.”
“You ordered their deaths.”
The priest laughed softly.
“No.”
Alora stared.
“I did worse.”
He stepped closer.
“I ordered their resurrection.”
The world stopped.
“What?”
The High Priest raised his staff.
A black mist gathered.
Two figures appeared in the center of the room.
A man.
A woman.
Alora's parents.
Alive.
Her knees nearly gave out.
“Mom…”
The woman looked at her.
Her eyes were empty.
Her mouth moved.
“Run.”
The High Priest smiled.
“They belong to me.”
Kael struggled to stand.
“Alora, don't listen.”
She couldn't move.
Her mother looked at Kael.
“Take her.”
The High Priest snapped his fingers.
The woman's body jerked.
Her eyes turned black.
Alora screamed.
“STOP!”
The High Priest laughed.
“The dead obey the living.”
The woman's body dissolved into ash.
The man disappeared with her.
Alora dropped to her knees.
Kael crawled toward her.
The priest raised his staff again.
“Now.”
The mountain shook.
A crack opened beneath the throne.
A giant black door rose from the earth.
The Moon Gate.
Kael stared.
“No.”
The High Priest smiled.
“Yes.”
He looked at Alora.
“And you will open it.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
He lifted his hand.
Pain exploded through her chest.
Alora screamed.
The Moon Bond burned.
Kael screamed too.
Their pain was connected.
“STOP!”
The High Priest smiled.
“Then watch him die.”
Kael collapsed.
Alora's eyes widened.
Something ancient woke inside her.
The wolves began howling.
The stones beneath the palace cracked.
The silver crown on the queen's throne lifted into the air.
The ancient white wolf stood.
And for the first time, it spoke aloud in the human tongue.
“AWAKEN, BLOOD MOON.”
A second voice came from beneath the mountain.
A deep voice.
Older than kingdoms.
Older than men.
“OPEN THE GATE.”
Alora looked at Kael.
Then at the black door.
Then at the crown.
May you like
She reached for it.
And the entire mountain began to scream.
