I turn and stride out of the office, my footsteps quickening as I move through the corridors of Shadowcarve. The roars continue overhead—Raven’s fury shaking the ancient stones, answered by the deeper rumble of her father and the sharp cry of Corvus’s war drake. Students scatter out of my way, pressing themselves against walls, their faces pale with fear.
I close my eyes for a brief moment and reach inward, searching for that thread of connection that binds me to my daughter. It’s there—warm and pulsing, a golden strand of awareness that hums with her presence. My progeny. My blood. The first child I’ve sired in over a thousand years of existence.
The pull guides me eastward, toward the old gardens where ancient willows drape their branches like curtains of green and gold. I break into a run, my ancient legs eating up the distance, my heart pounding with a father’s desperate need to protect. The connection grows stronger with every step, Nova’s presence burning brighter in my awareness like a flame calling me home.
I find them beneath the largest willow, its trailing branches forming a sanctuary around them. Orpheus stands with his back against the trunk, his gold eyes sharp and alert, his body positioned to shield Nova from any threat. My daughter is cradled against his chest, her mismatched eyes wide but calm, her small wings tucked tight against her back.
“Solaris.” Orpheus’s voice is steady, but I can see the tension in his shoulders. “What’s happening?”
“Someone made a grave mistake.” I reach for my daughter, and Orpheus transfers her to my arms without hesitation. The moment she settles against my chest, the bond between us flares—bright and warm and utterly right. Nova coos at the familiar scent of her father, her tiny fingers curling against my shirt. “I’m taking the wee one home. Stay hidden until Raven comes for ye.”
Orpheus nods, his golden eyes flickering toward the sounds of battle in the distance. “Tell my sister to save a piece for me.”
Despite everything, I smile.
“I’ll pass along the message.”
I hold my daughter close, her warmth anchoring me, her heartbeat steady against my chest. The bond between us thrums with contentment—she knows she’s safe, knows her father has her, knows nothing will harm her while I draw breath.
Raven will handle the threat.
I will protect what matters most.
