The Last Moon Child

ther and the mysterious Order. She woke to the sound of bird

mile on her face. "Good morni

g off the remnants of her dre

re. Ryker's gone to gather i

a beat. Ryker, gone? "

d serious. "Soon. Until

osity piqued

her was part of our group, the Guardians of the M

ed. Centuries? "Wh

rn with a special gift – the ability to harness

Harness the moon's en

to exploit this power for their o

ed. She would uncover the trut

ng about the Guardians and their mission. Ryker's absence

itchen, filled with the aroma of cooking

The tension between them dissipated,

ed, "What's Ryker's r

ed. "Ryker's... complicated. H

ked. Ryker's past? Wh

dows across the cabin, Ember's

echoed outside, Ryker's presenc

back,"

onto Ember's. "I'v

skipped a be

ent. "The Order's moving quickly.

ened. Another Mo

. "Europe. We need to get t

fied. She would protect this

emed to thicken, heavy

flashing with resolve

ing. Tonight, they would em

napshots in her mind. Her mother's smile, Ryker's inte

, the cabin's warmth enveloping her. Ember stre

tray balanced in her hands. "Good m

ipating the meal. She sat up,

, fresh fruit, and a carafe of coffee. Emb

Luna," Em

the bed beside Ember. "You'

kipped a beat.

tion," Luna began. "We need to

ghtened. The Order. Always

I do?" E

. "You need to learn control. Yo

's mind reele

e a Moonchild, Ember. You have the a

d. Harness the moon's e

emed to thicken, heavy

me," Em

rt with basics. Meditat

red. She would master the

r's mind absorbing Luna's teachings. She learned

ow over the cabin. Ember's senses heighte

grim. "The Order's moving," he

ipped a beat. Pr

d onto Ryker's. "

ke Ember to the sanctuary. It's

thoughts swirled.

ility shattered, r

now," Ry

r backpack tighten

forest path. Ember's senses heightened, her c

nd them, casting deep shadows. Em

ted, his eyes scann

it?" Luna

rkened. "We're

kipped a beat.

trees motionless. Ryker's gaze scanned t

er instincts screaming w

mber's arm, her grip tight.

onto Ember's. "We

forest path. Ember's senses heightened, her c

ound them, shadows twisting into m

from the trees. Tall, impos

is eyes locked onto the

respond, its gaz

ed a beat. This per

round Ember's arm. "Don

step closer, its p

d with warning. "Ba

d, its gaze neve

ed. Who was this perso

ed to stretch, h

er vanished, disappe

caught in her

onto Ember's. "We

"The sanctuar

d on the stranger. Who w

forest path. Ember's senses remained heightened, h

s in around them, shadows t

awled. They wer

etch on forever, the tre

erged, a majestic castl

widened. Th

. "Welcome

onto the castle. "

skipped a be

swung open, reveali

rled. This sanctuary

rom the castle, el

man said. "I'm Ariana, l

onto Ariana's. "Th

"You're safe now, Emb

ached. Safe?

ed to close in around h

on high alert. Ryker's words echoe

d onto Ryker's. "

ndings, his jaw clenched. "I do

ening around them. Ember's instincts screamed warning

nd them. Ember spun around, h

hadows, tall and imposing.

is eyes locked onto the

ce, piercing blue eyes. "My name

ts swirled. He

d guarded. "What makes

ou're the last Moonchild. The Order

ckpack tightened. Clai

kened. "We don't

olute. "I've been tracking t

narrowed.

nd Luna. "The Order seeks to harness Ember's pow

Control the moon's cy

row darker, the shadow

a whisper. "We need to ge

I can help. I

irled. Trust Kael?

rned thoughtful. "We

ked onto Luna's.

"We can't d

Ember's senses heightened, her connect

ows deepening. Ember's anxiety gre

is eyes scanning the sur

is, her eyes widening a

, its towers reaching fo

tened, her heart rac

undings, his eyes narrowing.

Ember's arm, pulling her

teps quiet on the forest path. Ember's ins

hem, casting long shadows. Embe

halted, his head

ng up the faint sound of footsteps. "S

ed onto Ryker's.

"We keep moving. The

nses on high alert. The foots

ken, the shadows deepeni

erbrush. Ember's legs pushed through the tangle

arm tightened. "S

ker's back. He navigated the fores

their pursuers closing in.

, his hand r

is, her eyes widening a

g the center. In the heart of the clearing stoo

ary," Ryker

. The mansion seemed to pulse with

onto Ember's. "We

, her heart

et on the grass. Ember's senses remained on

erged from the shadow

skipped a beat

moonlight illuminating their

ackwood," R

inting with malice. "Welcom

Cassius Blackwood,

rm tightened. "We wo

led. "We'll s

to thicken, hea

s eyes locked onto Cassiu

r senses on high alert. T