Xander Mortain

I stood outside the sealed doors, every muscle coiled tight. Silas remained silent to my left. Elias stood a few steps behind him, his face pulled tight into a frown. To my right, my father paced like a predator denied its kill.

“If this is some trick,” Marcus growled, “if my son does not walk out of that room alive… there will be an everlasting war between Eclipse and Shadow.”

Silence answered him. No one spoke.

The half-moon finally passed its peak. The heavy doors swung open.

The three elders filed out first, their faces hidden beneath deep hoods. Then Anika appeared. Relief slammed into me so hard...