Celestia gasped and opened her eyes wide. Her body was covered in sweat, and her chest rose and fell fast as she tried to catch her breath. She looked around the room, her heart still pounding from the dream.
Slowly, she stood up and walked toward the window. When she pulled the curtain aside, she saw the morning light shining across the camp. Birds were chirping softly, and smoke rose from the kitchens as people began their day.
Celestia let out a long, shaky sigh and sat on the edge of the bed. Her hands clenched into fists on her lap.
She had dreamt of it again.
Hector.
His arms wrapped around her.
His breath on her skin.
The way she felt trapped, helpless, powerless.
And worse—the voice of the Nightmare Wolf inside her head.
"End him. Use your power."
It whispered like smoke,
