_Kael's POV_
I didn’t speak for a while.
The old woman stood in front of me. She was still and waiting, like a statue carved from ancient shadows. My lips felt dry. My body was stiff. But then, it was like something else... someone else took over. The voice that came from my throat didn’t even sound like mine.
"Yes."
Morana smiled. Not kindly. It was the kind of smile that knew secrets. The kind that made your bones feel cold.
"Good," she said softly. "Then we begin."
She turned her pale gaze toward Alex. "You cannot be here for this, child. The magic must not be witnessed by anyone not bound to the spell."
Alex immediately frowned. "I’m not leaving him alone with you."
She raised a long, bony hand. "If you stay, the ritual will fail. That is the law. If you want this to work, you
