Deep within the shadows of his lair, Kael paced slowly, his gaze fixed on the vision floating before him—a dim, shimmering window into the human world. His red eyes flickered as he watched a humble village nestled at the edge of a dense forest, its thatched roofs huddled together under a veil of mist. Hidden within, protected by secrecy, were Ciara's most cherished vulnerabilities: her sons, Ethan and Emery, along with their father, Fidel. They were under the care of the wise healer Mother Agar, disguised and concealed from Kael's agents.
Kael's lips curved into a dark smile. The more he watched, the clearer it became—these children, with their untested powers and unique heritage, could become powerful pawns in his game. Their concealment only made them all the more valuable, and he could feel Ciara's connection to them vibrating like a taut string he could snap with the slightest touch.