For a long moment, no one moved.
Claire held onto Amila like she was afraid she'd vanish.The Queen stood frozen in a rare moment of naked fear.The air still trembled where Raeth's presence had been.
And then—
A sound.
Soft.
Faint.
Like a heartbeat.
Except it didn't come from Amila's chest.
It came from her wrist.
Claire noticed it first.
"Ami… your mark— it's glowing again."
Amila looked down.
Her sigil—the tiny golden symbol etched into her skin since the ceremony—was pulsing.
Slow.
Steady.
Alive.
But different.
The glow was deeper now… not gold.Not celestial white.
Something older.
Something royal.
Something dangerous.
The Queen stepped forward fast.
"Show me."
Amila lifted her wrist.
Her mother inhaled sharply.
Because the sigil had unfolded—like a blooming flower carved from light.
A new layer had awakened beneath the first, forming an ancient crest:
A sun split in half—one side burning,one side shadowed.
Claire frowned."Uh… is it supposed to look like the logo for 'eternal trauma' or…?"
The Queen didn't answer.
Because she recognized it.
And she wished she didn't.
"It's the mark," she whispered, voice trembling, "of the First Dawn Queen."
Claire blinked.
"…The who-now?"
The Queen exhaled shakily.
"The original ruler of the Dawnblood Clan. The one who created our bloodline. The one whose power was so vast the heavens split twice in fear."
Claire's eyes widened.
"So Amila has her symbol. Great. No pressure. Love that for her."
But the Queen's fear only deepened.
Because that sigil meant one thing:
Amila wasn't just awakening.She was reclaiming a throne.
And all thrones demanded a cost.
AMILA FEELS THE SHIFT
The mark pulsed again.
Harder.
Stronger.
Like it was syncing with something.
Or someone.
A shiver ran through Amila's body.
It wasn't fear this time.
It was recognition.
Like someone was calling her from very, very far away.
Someone ancient.Someone powerful.Someone who wanted her to walk a path she couldn't see.
Her stomach twisted.
"Mom… what does this mean?"
The Queen cupped her daughter's face.
"It means your fate has accelerated again. It means the celestial court will sense you. And… it means your aunt will feel you."
Amila swallowed.
"…Lady Seraphine?"
"Yes."
The Queen's wings trembled.
"She will be coming."
LIORA MAKES HER MOVE
Far beyond the sanctuary walls…inside the cursed manor cloaked in dark fog…
Lady Seraphine—Liora—lifted her head.
Her eyes gleamed gold.
She felt it.
That mark.
That ancient pulse.
A smile curled over her lips.
"So," she whispered, "my niece awakens another layer."
She rose from her throne, dark robes falling around her like night incarnate.
"Prepare the riders," she told Claire's attendants."We leave at dawn."
One of them hesitated."My lady… will we be attacking the Sanctuary?"
Seraphine smiled sweetly.
"No. Not yet."
Her eyes sharpened like blades dipped in blood.
"I will simply pay my dear sister a visit."
KAEL RETURNS
The Sanctuary gates burst open.
Wings of bright starlight swept inside.
Kael landed, breathless, eyes wild with worry.
He didn't bother hiding it.
"Where is she?!"
Claire pointed."Inside—over there. But Kael—"
He didn't listen.
He rushed straight to Amila—then froze mid-step.
Because he saw it.
Hovering around her aura.
A second crown.
Dim.Ancient.Heavy with fate.
"No," he whispered."No, no—this shouldn't be happening yet."
Amila looked up at him, exhausted.
"Kael… it's okay."
He shook his head violently.
"No. It's not okay. The more your lineage wakes up—the more he will come for you."
Amila's pulse skipped.
"Raeth?"
Kael shut his eyes.
"Not just Raeth."
He opened them again—fear carved into every line of his face.
"You are calling the First Queen. And she… she was the only being Raeth ever bowed to."
Amila froze.
"Why would she come to me?"
Kael swallowed.
"Because she wants her throne back."