The man on the horse had Kael's attention the second he spoke.
Kael's whole body changed. Even in wolf form, it was obvious. His fur bristled. His ears pinned. His stance went hard in a way that told everyone in the hall this was bad news.
The rider looked calm. Too calm.
The kind of calm that means he already knows something you do not.
"The Summit is over," he said again.
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Then he looked straight at Lyria and said, "And she belongs to the line we've been searching for."
Lyria's wolf gave a low sound from deep in her chest.
Not a growl. Not yet.
More like a warning.
Kael's mother went pale. Not fully. Just enough for Lyria to catch it. That alone told her this was not random. That woman did not get caught off guard by much. So if she looked rattled, then whatever this was, it was bad.
Mira swore under her breath. "Oh, this is some whole new mess."
