Chapter 60: The Price of Power
The ancient howl still rang across the pack lands when Liana felt it—a cold thread wrapping around her heart like frozen wire. She gasped, stumbling backward into Kael's arms. "What's wrong?" he asked, but his question was answered by his own strangled cry. Black lines spread up his neck like poison, and his eyes rolled back. The curse, Luna whispered desperately in Liana's mind. It's accelerating. Elder Mira rushed forward, her face pale. "The noise last night—it triggered something. Ancient magic is stirring, and Kael's curse is answering." "How long does he have?" Jace asked, catching his brother as Kael's legs buckled. "Hours, maybe less." Mira's voice cracked.
