The long driveway of the DeSilva estate shimmered under moonlight as Sofia’s car passed through the iron gates and pulled onto the circular drive in front of the home’s main entrance. Beyond its manicured lawns, the surrounding forest loomed tall and still, its protective Wardens offering an unseen layer of security and comfort.

  Sofia disembarked from the vehicle even before the engine fell silent. The mansion stood before her, resembling something made of shadow and silver, its towering gables and windows casting a faint, warm glow against the chilly night. A wave of relief swept over her as she stopped to gather her thoughts and enjoy the comfort of being home once again.

  Ascending the grand staircase quickly, her heels echoed on the stone path as she made her way to the imposing front doors, marked with the exclusive Crescent and Fang family crest — a silver circle surrounding a crescent moon and a blood drop flanked by two fangs.

  Maxx was waiting for her, standing on the terrace with his hands in the pockets of a dark waistcoat; the moon highlighted his profile as a stiff breeze ruffled the silver at his temples.

  He didn’t bother to ask why she was late. He didn’t need to.

  “Sofia,” he breathed.

  She paused a few steps away, her deep sigh fogging in the cold air. “He came,” she said. “Stefan.”

  Maxx’s jaw clenched. “Did he harm you?”

  “No. He spoke... nothing more.”

  Maxx moved closer. He stopped far enough for her to feel the warmth radiating from him, a comfort mortals rarely experienced in the presence of an immortal predator. She rushed into his arms, her chin resting on his shoulder as he wrapped her in a tight hug.

  “What did he say?”

  “He hinted that Seraphine is under scrutiny,” she said, looking past him toward the faint lights glowing inside the mansion. “And that our bloodline had already attracted the Council’s attention.”

  Maxx exhaled, his breath slow and controlled. “He wants a wedge between the Nightborn and us.”

  “He wants chaos,” Sofia whispered.

  “Then he’ll end up disappointed.”

  As Maxx opened the door, his hand grasped hers. They entered together and ascended the main staircase in silence, their steps conveying a quiet urgency. Sofia released her grip at the top and quickly headed toward her daughter’s bedroom.

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  Seraphine was still awake. The faint glow seeping from beneath her chamber door hinted at it, but Sofia didn’t need the light to sense her child’s mood. It was a restless, electric tension that pulsed through the house, like an overstretched violin string. As Sofia moved closer, the door swung open, and her daughter stepped out into the hallway.

  Seraphine stood barefoot in her nightclothes, her long hair flowing in glossy waves over her shoulders. She was a perfect mix of Maxx’s sharpness and Sofia’s ethereal grace. But tonight, her face appeared tense with worry.

  “Mother?” she asked, her tone soft. “What’s the matter? You seem upset.”

  Sofia blinked. She had mastered stillness centuries ago, but her daughter, born under two moons, could sense the truth beneath the silence.

  “I’m fine, darling,” Sofia said, lifting her hand to smooth Seraphine’s cheek.

  Seraphine held her wrist. “No, you’re not. Something’s off.”

  Sofia paused.

  Seraphine swallowed. “Is it the killings?”

  Sofia looked at Maxx, who stood behind her, watching with a quiet, unreadable calm.

  “Nothing is wrong that is your fault,” Sofia replied. “You are not to blame for any storms brewing in the city.”

  Seraphine’s eyes searched hers. “But the subway murders. The councils think something supernatural did it. They think it was me…don’t they?”

  Maxx stepped forward, placing a steady hand on his daughter’s shoulder.

  “People are afraid of what they don’t understand,” he said. “And this fear points at the darkness, not at you.”

  Seraphine folded her arms and looked away. She glanced at him sideways, avoiding his gaze.

  Sofia lifted her chin. “No one will harm you, little moon. Not while we stand.”

  Seraphine’s eyes softened; the apprehension in them seemed to fade but did not disappear.

  “I love you both,” she whispered. “But something feels wrong. Like the air is listening.”

  Maxx released a slow, audible breath and nodded once. “Go to bed, kitten. We’ll take care of this.”

  Seraphine hesitated before hugging them, her embrace fierce yet quick. She went back into her room and closed the door, leaving them alone in the hallway with their thoughts.

  “She feels it,” Sofia whispered.

  “She always will,” he replied. “She’s ours.”

  Minutes later, Maxx stepped out onto the rear terrace. The forest stretched before him, dark and dense under the moonlight. Sofia watched from the doorway as he removed his cufflinks, loosened his collar, and raised his arms, hands at shoulder level and palms turned outward toward the treeline.

  In an ancient language never spoken in the presence of mortals, he whispered a single word. A faint metallic flavor permeated the air, something Sofia hadn’t tasted in years.

  The sigils carved into the stone railings shimmered. A pulse of pale blue light rippled across the property. Shapes began moving among the trees. Tall, slender silhouettes that showed no sign of bending in the wind. Eyes like faint embers flickered open in the dark. Not wolves or ghosts, but something older.

  Sofia stepped onto the terrace beside him, her coat wrapped around her shoulders. “You didn’t tell Seraphine,” she murmured.

  “She has enough on her heart and her mind. Let her sleep tonight.”

  Sofia followed his gaze, watching as the silent guardians, bound to the estate’s sigils, took their positions.

  “They haven’t been this strong in years,” she said.

  “The city hasn’t been this dangerous in years,” Maxx replied.

  She slipped her hand into his. Together, they watched the shadows creep along the treeline. The watchers in the dark, summoned by his command.

  “Stefan has started something,” she whispered.

  Maxx’s eyes narrowed. “Yes. And I promise you, we’ll finish it.”