Chapter 182 1/6 PIPER The moment I woke , I knew something was wrong .

The pack bond was usually steady , but a comforting hum in the back of my mind was off .

It didnt feel severed , but it was weak like a thread stretched too thin and ready to snap .

I sat up in bed , running my fingers through my hair as I tried to focus on the sensation .

It was Aurora .

Her bond was dim , and distant , as though she wasnt just far away physically but emotionally locked behind some impenetrable wall .

I got dressed quickly , throwing on dark clothes meant for stealth .

My heart pounded as I tried to make sense of the unease clawing at me .

Whatever was happening , I couldnt just sit here and wait .

I came out and I felt drawn to the war room , I found Trajans map still spread across the table , a mess of notes and markers left behind from the last strategy session .

I studied it , searching for anything that might point me toward Aurora .

Think , Piper , 1 muttered to myself .

Where would she The Namelesss lair was the most obvious answer , but it wasnt * ough to just guess I needed something concrete .

Chapter 182 2/6 My fingers brushed over the map , tracing the paths wed marked as dangerous areas where dark creatures had been spotted or where Danes influence lingered .

A cold chill ran down my spine as I noticed a pattern .

The sightings formed a loose perimeter around one area we hadnt explored deeply , an unassuming section of dense forest that seemed to repel even the bravest scouts .

I frowned , leaning closer .

What are you hiding in there ? Beside the map was a stack of old reports , most of them from Evanders missions .

I flipped through them , scanning for any mention of the Nameless or unusual activity .

One entry caught my eye .

Spotted faint tracks leading into the eastern forest .

Too faint to pursue .

The air felt … heavy .

Recommend further investigation .

Evanders words sent a shiver through me .

him

had left on the table ,

weeks , but I wasnt sure how much she may have discovered

, give me something , I whispered

section caught my

the shadows coil where

werent just poetic ,

felt it in my gut

just

It was significant .

at

now , I could be there by nightfall

out wasnt difficult

wrapped up in whatever schemes kept him

, knowing he wouldnt notice my

was too

loomed ahead , dark and

air grew colder , and the

swallowed hard , forcing

eastern forest had always felt …

trees were taller here, their

with moss , muffling my steps and every

keeping to the shadows

of leaves

point , I paused , crouching low behind a

a shallow ravine , and in the center was something that didnt belong , a faint glow , like silver mist hovering just above the

catching as I realized what I was looking at

random , it was forming shapes , and symbols that

my bag , I flipped to the page with

same as the ones described as the seal of the

it , I whispered

closer wouldnt be easy

pulsed faintly , and the air around it felt … alive

watching me , waiting for me to make a wrong

tracing them with my finger and mouthing the words

now : Step only where the light touches , and the darkness will

, spotting faint patches of moonlight filtering through the trees

create a path , narrow and winding but

I stepped

beneath me , but

, carefully placing each

me , darkness reaching out as if testing my

a low growl stopped

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