ARIA’S POV

"Daryl?” My breathing gradually slowed.

She had morphed out of her wolf form as soon as the golden orb touched her.

"Was that...a test?" I probed, but no answer came.

The golden light had scattered into tiny pieces that disappeared into the night almost immediately after it touched her.

“Come with me,” she said coldly. There was a hint of her doing this against her will.

I knew it was linked to an interaction with the golden light, but I couldn’t explain it, so I quietly followed.

Minutes later, the trees began changing. Their trunks shimmered faintly beneath the moonlight. Silver leaves sparkled overhead despite the absence of...