Kael (Moonridge Beta)
Moonridge was crumbling, but Kael had never felt stronger.
He stood on the eastern watchtower, overlooking the shadowed path toward Crescent territory, the wind teasing his coat open. His father, Gabriel, stood beside him—still and silent, as if carved from stone. The moonlight cast deep hollows under his eyes, but there was satisfaction in the tilt of his mouth.
“He’s not going to find her,” Kael said, voice flat.
“No,” Gabriel agreed. “Because she doesn’t want to be found.”
Kael exhaled slowly. “The bond will be broken by sunrise.”
“And then,” his father said softly, “we move.”
Kael’s jaw flexed. “Cassian won’t step down without a fight.”
Gabriel turned to face him fully. “He won’t need to. Elder Verin already has the council votes. One whisper of instabilit
