Page 68 of Night Fae

Werewolf researchers…

Malik watched as the journal passed to Caelen.

Had Zev taken this from some of the wolves he'd been forced to kill?

Nothing in Zev's expression betrayed his feelings, yet Malik still had to suppress the urge to reach for his hand.

"I've read the journal," Zev said. "The researchers were documenting changes in the shadow paths. Recording disappearances, analyzing energy fluctuations."

Caelen flipped through the journal, his expression growing increasingly troubled. "These readings match what my own people have found. But they've studied a lot more locations."

He turned to one of the maps, placing the journal beside it. As he read out coordinates, Knox marked them with a pen.

A strange kind of pattern seemed to emerge—disturbances clustered around specific points, forming what looked almost like a constellation across Veridia.

"That can't be natural," Daniel said, leaning forward. "That doesn't look random."

"It isn't," Caelen confirmed. "This is a ritual formation."

A heavy silence fell over the room.

"A ritual for what?" Malik asked.

Caelen's expression darkened. "The shadow paths are ancient—older than Veridia itself by some accounts. They're not just passages; they're foundations holding our world separate from others."

"Including Earth," Adrian murmured.

"Yes." Caelen traced a finger along the pattern on the map. "Someone is deliberately destabilizing them at key junction points."

"Yuri," Knox muttered darkly. "Could this be his doing?"

Malik remembered Yuri. The fourth barrier keeper who was responsible for his being in Veridia now. Yuri wanted the barriers to break.

But why?

"I wonder if he's doing it for power," Caelen said. "There is an immense amount of magic that can be harvested from the paths. It's part of the reason my ancestors built here… and why the Night Court keeps trying to annex my kingdom."

Zev shifted behind Malik's chair. "The Night Court has been excavating entrances to the paths."

Caelen grimaced. "I'm not surprised to hear that."

Malik worried his bottom lip. "Could they use them to travel here?"

"They haven't managed so far." Caelen met his gaze. "I have guards posted at all entrances. It's how we were notified of your arrival so quickly. If anything comes through the path, I'll know."

While that was reassuring, it didn't completely erase Malik's fear of coming face to face with his tormentors once more.

Before he could say anything, though, the chamber doors swung open. A guard entered and bowed deeply to Caelen.

"Forgive the interruption, Your Majesty, but there are urgent matters requiring your attention."

"Speak," Caelen commanded.

The guard straightened. "Our eastern checkpoint has detained an unusual visitor claiming to know your guests."

Daniel sat forward. "Who?"

"A male siren. He was injured and exhausted when our patrols found him."