Dennis growled. “Stay close. No wandering. We can’t afford mistakes tonight.”
Kaelen nodded, eyes on the relics. His hands hovered, trembling slightly. But as soon as his fingers brushed them, the relics pulsed. Faintly at first, then stronger. I felt a protective rhythm in response to his presence, subtle but undeniable, like a heartbeat syncing with our own. The air around us seemed charged, thick with anticipation.
“You see?” Eryx whispered, pride and relief in his voice. “Even his power, small as it seems compared to yours, strengthens the bond. The Eclipse reacts to all of us.”
I looked at Kaelen. “It’s okay. You’ll learn to control it. Just stay with us.” My hand brushed his shoulder briefly, a small anchor in the chaos, and he flinched less than before.
Kaelen’s jaw tightened. “
