The ancient voice echoed through the sacred stones, but before Elara could react, the world exploded into chaos. A pillar of fire shot up from the farm below, so bright it turned night into day.
Through the mate bond, she felt Ronan's desperate anger as he broke free from whatever was holding him. "He's alive!" Kael shouted, relief flooding their link.
The mysterious presence in the stones faded as their attention snapped back to the fight. But Elara filed the memory away—something important had just tried to contact her. "We have to get back," she said quickly.
"Wait." Kael put his hand on the center stone. "The sacred areas have power. Maybe we can use it to—" His words were cut off as a huge explosion rocked the mountain.
Through their bond, both Ronan and Darian's pain hit them like a physical blow. "Now!" Elara asked. Kael's ice-slide carried them down the mountain at rapid speed. As they got closer to the house, the damage became clear.
