Chapter 68

Victoria The war room fell silent when I entered, all eyes turning to me expectantly. I straightened my shoulders, ignoring my lingering headache as I shared what I'd discovered. "They're at Marcus's main compound," I concluded. "Alive and unharmed for now. Marcus wants me to come to him—he's planning some kind of binding ritual during the Dark Moon, ten days from now." "A binding ritual during the Dark Moon?" Lilith's voice was uncharacteristically small. "That's... that's the old magic. The forbidden kind." "You know about this?" I asked, surprised. Lilith nodded reluctantly. "My grandmother used to warn us about it. Forced bonds during the Dark Moon are nearly unbreakable. The Elders outlawed the practice centuries ago after..." She hesitated, glancing at me uncertainly. "After what?" I pressed. "After Alphas used it to enslave Forest fairies," she finished quietly. "To steal their power." The room fell silent as everyone absorbed this information. I felt Leo move closer to me, his