THE DARKHEART SAGA

pte

e the city. Moonlight filtered through the canopy, casting eerie shadows on the forest floor. Kie

he asked, his voice

ar enough to put the Domin

by the crunch of leaves underfoot and the distant call of an owl. "You stil

in the dim light, and her expression was unreadable. "You're not in

t ask for your help. And I sure as hell didn't ask

ined firm. "No one asks for destiny, Kieran

scoffed. "You soun

esumed walking, her pace brisk. Kieran sighed and followed,

d the crumbling remains of a stone chapel, its walls cloaked in ivy and moss.

Kieran asked, his voic

l, her movements reverent. "A sanctuary," she said finall

"And how exactly

he worn stone walls. "This ground is sacred. Older t

er," Kieran said, f

ion serious. "It's all the answe

vident. "Trust you? That's asking a lot,

ent. "I'm keeping you alive, Kiera

emanating from the floor beneath them. Intricate runes carved into the ston

e asked, his voic

carvings. "A protective ward. It's what

tudying the runes. "This... t

ures. "My people. Before the Dominion rose to power, there were o

hoed, his curiosity piqu

es humans tell-bloodthirsty monsters lurking in the dark-are only part

he first time, he glimpsed the depth of her past, the cent

ing me this now?"

ause you need to understand, Kieran. The Dominion isn't just hunting you. They're hunti

I don't believe in fate or prophecies. I'm ju

ou want, but the truth won't change. The visions you've had, the way

s frustration boiling over. "

. "I don't know, Kieran. But I do know th

n turned away, running a hand through his hair. He felt like a pawn in

faint sound reached his ear

us," Elira said

I thought you said thi

n tense. "But the wards won't hold ag

as if sensing the impending danger. The forest around the

t stabbing through him. This place had felt safe,

owed, his grip tightening on his pistol. The sound of engines grew

them," Kieran sai

anning the area. "Then we'

eyebrow. "Any b

played on her

obscured by the underbrush. "We'll set an am

en nodded. "Fine. Bu

ks. Elira crouched low, her eyes fixed on the approaching

ved like a shadow, silent and lethal, taking down the soldier before he co

n, their weapons blazing. Kieran and Elira fought side by s

watching from the shadows. It wasn't a soldier-it was someone

voice echoing unnaturally. "Yo

ore he could react, the man vanished, lea

knocking the pistol from his hand. Kieran struggled, b

t him, and the weight on his chest vanish

said, pulling

ht wasn't over, but something told him