Damien POV
The artifact woke on the first true night of winter.
I felt it before the alarms sounded — a deep, ancient pulse beneath the fortress, like a second heartbeat that had been sleeping for centuries in the sealed vaults below. The bond with Nova flared in warning at the exact same moment. She sat up beside me in bed, one hand flying protectively to the curve of her belly even though Lyra was now three and sleeping soundly in her own room down the hall.
"Damien," she breathed, silver light already flickering beneath her skin. "Something's waking up."
I was already on my feet, shadows rising at my command — tempered, gold-edged threads that no longer hungered but answered with steady purpose. I pulled Nova close for one brief second, pressing my forehead to hers.
"Stay with Lyra. I'll handle it."
She caught my wrist, storm-gray eyes fierce even in the dark.
"Not without me. She's part of this family too."
