“Yeah, Lira said Angie's stomach is glowing with this weird pattern, like runes,” Malcolm added, standing up and slipping his hand into his trouser pocket.

“What does the pattern look like?” Mom asked, her gaze full of questions.

“I don't know… it's like strange writing, with squares and circles,” I whispered.

“You—you mean like a sigil?” Mom stammered.

I fell silent, confused, but Mom quickly pulled something from her bag, a handkerchief embroidered with bizarre writing, exactly like what I'd seen.

“That looks just like it!” I blurted out. “What's really going on?”

“Goddesses... Angie, are you serious? This is the Sealing Rune of the first Alpha Queen. It only...