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D.C. grimaced, perhaps realising Alex was right. “I guess our lack of Meyarin blood would be somewhat… limiting.”

Alex did have an advantage on that front and her friends knew as much, so there was no need for any of them to say more.

“They’d better get a move on,” Jordan said, pulling out his ComTCD and checking the time—as he had done repeatedly that afternoon. “I’m starving.”

Alex found it in her to roll her eyes. “I can take you back to the academy at any time, you know. Just say the word.”

“And leave you here? I’d sooner starve.”

Alex knew that was saying a lot from her food-loving friend, but before she could thank him or promise them all she’d be fine on her own, Caspar Lennox and Shirez shadowed back onto their balcony.

“The elders have made their decision,” her teacher said. “Come, Alexandra.”

Leaving her friends and her wolf behind—since, as Niyx had warned, the elders weren’t pleased that more humans had been brought to Graevale, and they were even less pleased upon discovering that Alex had adopted a ‘tainted’ Shadow Wolf—Alex followed Caspar Lennox and Shirez down to the cathedral floor and then back up the private staircase to the elders’ balcony. She couldn’t figure out why sometimes they walked normally and sometimes they shadow-travelled, but she had more important things to be worrying about than transportation decisions.

Stepping once more before the elders, Alex’s heart pounded as she waited to hear what they would say.

“We have considered your warnings carefully, human,” Radek said, his fingers steepled under his chin. “And while we appreciate that you believe them to be dire, we, however, do not.”

Alex’s vision blurred as disbelief—and despair—overwhelmed her.

“Humans are such an overly dramatic race,” Azalia said with a sniff of her nose. “And you, in particular, seem excessively guilty of such a trait.”

Alex’s voice was low and harsh when she hissed, “Are you kidding me?”

Azalia raised an eyebrow. “Careful, human. Remember where you are and to whom you speak.”

“I knowexactlywhere I am.” Alex’s tone simmered with rage. “And you”—she jabbed a finger towards the elders—“need to set aside your prideful arrogance and start taking me seriously.”

“Howdareyou!” Azalia demanded, her eyes slitted.

“I dare because someone freaking has to!” Alex all but shrieked. “Do you have any idea—any idea—” She broke off mid-sentence and sucked in an emotion-clogged breath. Then another.

When she spoke again, it was to tell the elders something she hadn’t shared with anyone. Not her friends. Not even Niyx. It was something she’d buried deep within her mind—something that, from what Alex could tell, involved the Shadow Walkers.

She’d known the truth from the moment she’d first arrived outside Graevale and seen the city, split in half, day and night. She’d deliberately ignored how obvious the signs were. Instead, she’d focused on her mission, attempting to get the races from both sides of the city on board with her plans, using logic, caution and sound reasoning to sway them.

Her mission had failed. Which meant she now needed to share everything, human dramatics be damned.

In a ragged whisper, Alex said, “There’s a prophecy about me.” She lifted her chin and met their eyes. “And about you.”

Radek’s scarred brow shot up, making him appear more quizzical than normal. “A prophecy?”

“It was shared with me by a Tia Auran,” Alex went on, her voice wobbling slightly with nerves, “written on an ancient piece of parchment with a full translation. And when I showed it to Roka—Prince Roka Dalmarta of Meya—he said he’d heard it recited before, long ago, also from the lips of a Tia Auran but in their native tongue.”

For a second, Alex wondered if perhaps Lady Mystique had been the one to share it with Roka as well, before realising that it hardly mattered right now.

Eyes still narrowed from earlier, Azalia said, “What is this prophecy of which you speak?”

Alex licked her lips and recited the words burned into her brain. “When Day and Night combine and fight against one Enemy, then Dark and Light shall meet mid-strike and set the Captives free.”

Silence descended as the elders processed her words, likely coming to the same conclusion as she.

“Day and Night,” Saber said pensively. “You believe this to mean us?”

Alex nodded slowly. “You and the Dayriders.”

She chanced a glance towards Caspar Lennox and Shirez only to discover their eyes wide and their mottled-grey faces sickly pale.