🌘 THE BOUND SHADOW CHRONICLES

A massive wolf - white as bone, eyes glowing with shadow and starlight - stepped out from between the trees.

Nymera stiffened.
"Is that-?"

"Yes," I whispered.
"The same one."

It stared at me.
At us.

Nymera reached for my hand instinctively.

Before I could grip her fingers, the wolf's body dissolved - melting into smoke.

Gone.

Again.

Nymera touched my arm, gently.
"Echo. Something is wrong with this forest."

"I know," I said quietly.
"My shadows feel it too."

The ground trembled.

Once.

Twice.

Then-

A crack tore open in the sky above us, spilling vertical light like a wound being forced apart.

My runes flared in panic.
Shadows howled around me, lifting me slightly off the ground.

"Echo!" Nymera grabbed my wrist.
"Stay with me!"

The void reached for my chest - an invisible claw sinking into my ribs, pulling.

Nymera pulled back.

Her body pressed against mine.
Her arms locked around my waist.
Her forehead pressed to my cheek.

"I'm here," she breathed.
"I'm here. I'm not letting you go."

Light burst from her hands, wrapping around my ribs like silver threads.
My shadows surged, forming a shell around us both.

The tear in the sky widened, screaming light.

Nymera squeezed my face between her palms.

"Look at me."

I forced my eyes open.

"Say it," she whispered fiercely.
"Say my name."

"Nymera-"

The void shrieked.

But I stayed.

Because she held me.

Because she refused to lose me to darkness.

"Good," she whispered, lips brushing my forehead.
"Stay with me, Echo."

And the forest exploded into white flame.