Prince Trisananda adjusted the ceremonial earrings that dangled from his ears—beautiful ornate pieces passed down through generations of vampire royalty. The weight of them felt heavier tonight, as if they embodied the expectations pressing down upon him. From beyond his chambers, music and laughter drifted upward from the Grand Hall where nobles from every Vampire house had gathered to celebrate his thirty-third birthday.

  To celebrate, and to watch him choose a bride.

  A soft knock interrupted his thoughts. Viktor slipped inside, already dressed in the dark traveling clothes they had prepared.

  "The festivities are reaching their peak," Viktor reported, his voice low. "Your father has called for the third toast. He'll announce the presentation of potential brides within the hour."

  Tris nodded, removing the formal overcape of royal blue and silver. Beneath it, he wore a simpler, darker outfit suitable for their journey. He secured his blue and white sword to his hip—not the ceremonial blade he would have carried to the celebration, but the true royal weapon of his bloodline, Durandal, its polished surface gleaming with ancient power.

  "And the tunnel entrance?" Tris asked, carefully placing the lunar medallion around his neck.

  "Unguarded. The household staff are occupied with the feast." Viktor moved to the window, peering out at the moonlit grounds below. "Though I still say this is madness, Fair Cousin."

  Tris smiled faintly. "The truly mad part is that no one has attempted it before."

  "Because it violates agreements older than our grandfather's grandfather," Viktor hissed. "Thousands of years of the Ancient Agreement with beings who once walked as gods."

  "Or perhaps," Tris countered, retrieving a small pack from beneath his bed, "because we've all been too afraid to question why those agreements exist in the first place, and why the power structures are as they are."

  Viktor sighed but said nothing more. His loyalty to Tris outweighed his concerns.

  Tris moved to his writing desk and penned a brief note—not an explanation, for none would suffice, but a request that his father refrain from immediate pursuit. He had no illusions about the King's reaction, but perhaps he could buy some time.

  "Ready?" Viktor asked as Tris sealed the letter with wax and pressed his signet ring into it.

  "I've been ready my entire life," Tris replied, though he wasn't sure exactly why he felt that way. Something beyond his understanding drove him forward, toward a future he could only glimpse in dreams.

  They slipped from his chambers through a servant's passage, descending through the castle's forgotten corridors. The maps Tris had studied showed ancient tunnels beneath the castle—remnants of an era when the occulted bloodlines moved more freely through the world.

  Three levels down, past storerooms and wine cellars, they reached a wall adorned with a massive faded rug which displayed patchwork pyramids and a prominent sun and moon. Tris pulled it aside, revealing stonework with subtle differences from the surrounding wall. He pressed his palm against a specific stone, and a low grinding sound emanated from within the wall as a hidden door swung inward.

  "The ancient bloodline recognition still functions," Tris whispered, genuinely surprised. "These passages truly haven't been used in centuries."

  Cool, stale air wafted from the darkness beyond. Viktor produced a small crystal that emitted soft blue light when activated—another technology the Humans didn't possess, something provided by their Anunnaki overseers to maintain the illusory boundary between worlds within worlds.

  The tunnel stretched before them, carved from living rock and reinforced with strange, shimmering material along the ceiling.

  "Fifty miles through these?" Viktor questioned, distaste evident in his voice.

  "Not all the way," Tris replied, consulting the map once more. "The tunnel branches multiple times. We need the eastern fork that surfaces near the Whispering Woods. From there, it's ten miles overland to the Drow entrance."

  Viktor grimaced. "Overland. In the open. Where any Human might see us."

  "It's the dead of night, and the path takes us through uninhabited territory." Tris stepped into the tunnel, his resolve hardening with each step. "Coming, cousin?"

  With a resigned sigh, Viktor followed, pulling the hidden door closed behind them.

  Elizabeth Ereshkigal Sonoran—Eli to those few she allowed close enough—had perfected the art of the courtly smile. It revealed nothing while satisfying the expectations of those around her. She deployed it now as she circulated among the gathered nobles, accepting birthday congratulations and deflecting not-so-subtle inquiries about which suitor had caught her eye.

  "Your Highness, House Nightshadow would be honored by your consideration," murmured Lady Vex, practically pushing her son forward. The young Drow male bowed stiffly, his expression revealing his own reluctance.

  At least we agree on something, Eli thought, maintaining her placid smile.

  "I shall consider all houses equally, Lady Vex," she replied diplomatically. "The future of our people deserves thorough deliberation."

  Before another noble could corner her, Eli spotted Therin signaling discreetly from a side entrance. She excused herself with practiced grace and glided toward him, her ceremonial gown whispering against the polished stone floor.

  "Is it time?" she asked as soon as they were out of earshot.

  Therin nodded. "The third bell has rung. The eastern passageway is clear, but we must move quickly. Your absence will be noticed within the hour."

  Eli's heart quickened. After years of planning, of secret research and whispered conversations, the moment had finally arrived. She would leave behind the suffocating expectations, the arranged marriage, the carefully curated life that had never felt truly hers.

  "My chambers," she whispered. "I need to change and collect my things."

  They moved swiftly through the less populated corridors of the underground palace. Eli's royal quarters were mercifully empty of attendants—Therin's doing, no doubt. She wasted no time shedding the ceremonial gown, allowing it to pool like liquid silver at her feet.

  From a hidden compartment beneath her bed, she withdrew clothes more suited for travel—dark leggings, a fitted tunic, and a hooded cloak that would help conceal her distinctive white hair. Her freckles along her cheeks and nose bridge stood out against her black skin as she removed the heavy ceremonial makeup.

  "You look more yourself already," Therin observed with a sad smile.

  "Ugh, this feels so much better," Eli sighed with relief, quickly braiding her hair into a simple style. She retrieved a small pack containing essential supplies and the crystal vial Therin had given her earlier. "Will you be safe? When they discover I'm gone—"

  "I am merely an old advisor past his prime," Therin interrupted. "I will claim ignorance, and they will believe it. Your father may suspect, but he will have no proof."

  Eli impulsively embraced the elderly Drow, who stiffened in surprise before returning the gesture awkwardly. Public displays of affection were uncommon among their kind, particularly with those of different social ranks.

  "Thank you," she whispered. "For everything."

  "Go," Therin urged, pulling away. "Follow the Eastern Passage until it forks. Take the upward path marked with the crescent moon symbol. It will lead you to the surface near the Human settlement known as Oakridge. My contact will meet you at the edge of the Whispering Woods."

  Eli nodded, securing a small dagger at her hip—not for show like the ceremonial blade she'd worn earlier, but a practical weapon should the need arise.

  "The vial," Therin reminded her. "Drink it before you reach the surface."

  "I remember," she assured him, tucking it safely into an inner pocket. The potion would temporarily alter her appearance, muting her distinctive Drow features enough to pass for Human in darkness or dim light.

  With a final glance around the chambers that had been her home for thirty-three years, Eli pulled up her hood and followed Therin to a small, unadorned door nearly hidden behind a massive ornate curtain depicting a sprawling battle between gods. It opened to reveal a narrow staircase descending into darkness.

  "The old ways lie open before you, Princess," Therin said formally. "May the forgotten Guardians guide your steps."

  Eli summoned a small illumination spell—minor magic allowed to her bloodline—creating a soft white glow around her hand. She took a deep breath and began her descent, not looking back. If she hesitated now, she might never find the courage again.

  The staircase led to ancient tunnels carve by her ancestors centuries ago. Unlike the grand, illuminated passages that connected the various Drow settlements, these were narrow, utilitarian corridors meant for quick, discreet travel. The air hung heavy with dust and the musty scent of abandonment.

  Eli quickened her pace, following Therin's directions. The tunnel branched multiple times, but the crescent moon symbols, faded but still visible, guided her path. After an hour of steady walking, the atmosphere began to change subtly—the air felt less stale, carrying hints of moisture and organic matter.

  She was approaching the surface world.

  Pausing at a junction marked with a large solar symbol, Eli withdrew the crystal vial. The luminescent liquid inside pulsed gently, almost as if alive. She uncorked it and, after only a brief hesitation, drank the contents in one swallow.

  The transformation began immediately—a tingling sensation spread from her core to her extremities. She watched as her black skin lightened to a deep brown, not quite Human but less distinctively Drow. Her white hair darkened to silver-gray, and she felt a curious pressure around her ears as their distinctive pointed shape became less pronounced.

  She continued upward, the tunnel gradually inclining until she reached what appeared to be a dead end. Remembering Therin's instructions, Eli pressed her palm against a specific stone bearing a nearly invisible spiral pattern. The wall slid aside with a soft grinding noise, revealing a final set of stairs leading to a trapdoor above.

  Eli extinguished her light spell and listened intently. No sounds of Human activity reached her ears. With a deep breath, she pushed the trapdoor open a crack, then wider when she confirmed the coast was clear. Cool night air rushed in, carrying the scents of earth and vegetation—so different from the mineral and fungal aromas of her underground home.

  She emerged cautiously, finding herself in a small clearing surrounded by ancient trees. The trapdoor was cunningly disguised as part of a massive gnarled root system. Once closed, even she would have difficulty spotting it.

  Overhead, the night sky spread out in infinite glory—not the carved stone ceilings she had known all her life, but an endless expanse glittering with stars and dominated by two moons, one full and one waning. Eli stared upward, momentarily overwhelmed and in awe. She had seen images of the sky in books and paintings, but nothing had prepared her for the reality.

  "Beautiful, isn't it?"

  The voice nearly stopped her heart. Eli whirled, dagger drawn in an instant.

  A figure stepped from the shadows of the trees—a woman in simple traveling clothes, her features obscured by a hood.

  "Peace, Fair Princess," the woman said, raising empty hands. "I am Lyra, Therin's contact. I'm here to guide you to the meeting point."

  Eli kept her dagger raised. "Prove it."

  The woman pushed back her hood, revealing features that marked her as neither Human nor Drow but something between—a half-blood, one of the rare offspring from the times before the Ancient Agreement had enforced complete separation.

  "Therin gives you his final message," Lyra said. "'Remember that water and fire together create steam—a force that can split mountains.'"

  Eli slowly lowered her weapon. Those were indeed Therin's words, spoken to her in private when she first shared her dreams of the pale man with gentle eyes.

  "How far to the meeting point?" she asked, sheathing her dagger.

  "Five miles through the Whispering Woods," Lyra replied, already turning toward a nearly invisible path. "We should reach it before midnight. If your Vampire Prince keeps his word, he'll arrive from the west."

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  Eli followed, her eyes constantly drawn upward to the open sky and the twin moons watching over her journey into the unknown.

  The ancient tunnel system proved more challenging than the maps had indicated. Twice Tris and Viktor encountered cave-ins that forced them to backtrack and find alternative routes. What should have been a direct journey became a winding exploration through the forgotten infrastructure of a bygone era.

  "These tunnels predate nearly our eldest kin," Viktor observed as they navigated around a particularly large collapse. "They may even date back to the early days after the Fall."

  “So you too have seen the family records, Cousin,” Tris ran his fingers along the strange, shimmering material embedded in the walls. "Some of this technology isn't ours. It bears the mark of our 'benefactors.'"

  Viktor tensed at the implication. Even in the privacy of empty tunnels, discussing the Anunnaki so directly felt taboo.

  "All the more reason to abandon this quest, Fair Cousin," he urged. "If these passages were built with their knowledge, they may still monitor them."

  Tris shook his head. "If that were true, we would have been stopped already." He consulted the map again, orienting himself. "The eastern branch should be just ahead. From there, it's a straight path to the surface exit."

  As predicted, they soon reached a junction where the tunnel split into three directions. Faded symbols marked each passage—a circle for the central path, a square for the western route, and a triangle with a pentagram for the eastern corridor.

  "Triangle, representing fire and ascension rites. Pentagram, representing the body and humanity," Tris murmured, recalling the ancient texts he had studied. "This is our path."

  The eastern tunnel showed less sign of deterioration, its ceiling higher and the air less stagnant. They made better time, though the upward incline grew steadily steeper.

  "We're approaching the surface," Tris noted after they had walked for nearly two hours. "Ready yourself. We'll need to move quickly once we emerge."

  Viktor nodded, checking his weapons—a short sword and dagger, practical rather than ceremonial. Tris touched the hilt of Durandal, drawing comfort from the connection to his bloodline's heritage, his grandfather’s mother who used to wield it in battle. She was the mightiest warrior their family had ever known, even challenging the Old Gods. His family says he is her reincarnation, though he chocked it up to myth and legend. Though some part of him may have believed, no one had ever been able to wield her sword effectively until he was asked to wield it at the age of 6. It was the most skilled display of intuitive swordsmanship their family had ever seen since his great-grandmother’s eon.

  The tunnel eventually ended at a vertical shaft with metal rungs embedded in the stone wall. Tris climbed first, his enhanced strength making the ascent effortless. At the top, he encountered a heavy stone slab blocking the exit. Bracing himself on the rungs, he pressed upward, muscles straining against the ancient weight until it finally shifted with a grating sound.

  Cool night air flooded the shaft as Tris pushed the slab aside and emerged into a small stone structure—the ruins of what might once have been a temple or watchtower. Most of the roof had collapsed long ago, leaving the interior open to the sky. Vegetation had reclaimed much of the space, vines crawling over tumbled stones.

  Viktor climbed out behind him, immediately surveying their surroundings with wary eyes. "Where are we?"

  "The western edge of the Whispering Woods, if the map is accurate," Tris replied, orienting himself by the moons' positions. "The meeting point should be near the center of the forest."

  They concealed the tunnel entrance beneath fallen debris and set off eastward, moving silently through the darkness. Though humans considered the night a hindrance, for Vampires it was their natural element. They navigated the forest with ease, avoiding the few trails that might be used by Human hunters or travelers.

  The Whispering Woods earned its name from the constant, subtle sounds that emanated from its depths—not just the rustle of leaves and creatures, but something more, as if the trees themselves communicated in sighs and murmurs. Humans avoided the place, calling it haunted. The occulted bloodlines knew better—the forest grew atop a convergence of ley lines, places where the dimensional membranes thinned.

  After an hour of swift travel, Tris held up a hand, stopping Viktor in his tracks.

  "Listen," he whispered.

  Through the forest's ambient sounds came footsteps—two sets, approaching from the south. Tris motioned Viktor into the shadows of a massive oak, his hand resting on his sword hilt.

  The footsteps drew closer, accompanied now by hushed voices. Tris strained his enhanced hearing.

  "...should be just ahead," a female voice was saying. "The clearing with the stone circle."

  "And you're certain the Vampire will come?" This second voice caused something to stir in Tris's memory—like an echo from a dream half-forgotten upon waking.

  "As certain as one can be about secret, forbidden meetings between occulted, forbidden bloodlines," the first voice replied with a hint of amusement.

  They were close now, perhaps twenty yards away through the undergrowth. Tris signaled to Viktor to remain hidden, then stepped deliberately on a dry branch. The crack echoed through the quiet forest.

  The footsteps immediately halted.

  "We know you're there," called the second voice, its tone steadier than its owner probably felt. "Show yourself."

  Taking a deep breath, Tris stepped from the shadows into a shaft of moonlight filtering through the canopy. "I am here as arranged," he called softly.

  Two hooded figures emerged from the trees opposite him. The taller one hung back while the shorter stepped forward and lowered her hood.

  Though the potion had muted her distinctive Drow features, Tris would have recognized her anywhere. She was the woman from his dreams—different, yet unmistakably the same. Her skin now a deep brown instead of black, her hair silver-gray rather than pure white, but her eyes—those sky-blue eyes remained unchanged, watching him with a mixture of caution and wonder.

  "Elizabeth Sonoran," he said, her name feeling right on his tongue.

  She studied him intently before responding. "Trisananda Draculalucard."

  For a long moment, neither moved, as if crossing the physical space between them would somehow make real what had until now existed only in dreams and whispered possibilities.

  Then, simultaneously, they each took a step forward.

  Viktor emerged from hiding, sword drawn, mirroring the protective stance of Eli's companion Lyra. But neither Tris nor Eli paid them any mind, their focus entirely on each other as they continued their cautious approach.

  They stopped an arm's length apart. Up close, Tris could see the scattering of freckles across her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Her eyes were even more vivid than in his dreams, something wild and fierce burning behind them.

  "You're shorter than I expected," he found himself saying, immediately regretting the awkward observation. It was out of character for him, yet it felt so natural.

  To his surprise, a smile broke across her face—not the practiced, diplomatic smile of a princess, but something genuine and a little crooked.

  "And you're less intimidating," she countered. "The stories say Vampire princes bathe in blood and turn into bats."

  The absurdity of it—meeting in secret after a lifetime of dreams and preparations, only to exchange such mundane and exotic observations—struck them both at the same moment. A small chuckle escaped Tris, matched by Eli's more exuberant laugh.

  The tension shattered like thin ice.

  "I've been looking for you," they said in unison, then stared at each other in renewed wonder.

  Behind them, Viktor cleared his throat. "Perhaps we should continue this conversation somewhere less exposed? We're still within range of both our kingdoms' patrols."

  Lyra nodded in agreement. "The stone circle lies just ahead. It's shielded from prying eyes and has served as neutral ground for generations."

  They followed her deeper into the forest, soon arriving at a small clearing where seven megalithic stones stood in a perfect circle. Ancient symbols, similar to those in the tunnels, were carved into their weathered surfaces. In the center of the circle lay a flat stone altar, its surface worn smooth by time, displaying the sun and moon in unison.

  As they crossed the boundary between the stones, a subtle change occurred—the forest sounds dimmed, and the air took on a quality of suspension, as if time itself moved differently here.

  "We'll be safe for a few hours," Lyra explained. "I'll keep watch with your cousin, Prince Trisananda."

  Viktor looked ready to protest being volunteered, but a glance from Tris silenced him. The two companions withdrew to the edge of the circle, leaving Tris and Eli alone by the central altar.

  For a moment, neither knew how to begin. A lifetime of formality and protocol hadn't prepared either of them for this unprecedented meeting.

  "Did you bring it?" Eli finally asked. "The medallion from your dreams? The one with the moon on it?"

  Tris nodded, withdrawing the ancient disk from beneath his shirt. It gleamed dully in the moonlight, its inscriptions faintly luminous.

  Eli reached into her tunic and produced a similar item—not identical, but clearly of the same origin. Her medallion bore different inscriptions but with a solar symbol.

  "I found it in our deepest vault," she explained. "Behind a false wall, hidden from even the archivists."

  "It was passed down to me through my family," Tris replied. "Made me curious about them. So took a look at our records and found several things about ‘Sovereigns’ and the ‘Monad.’"

  Her eyes widened. "You found those records too? My father's advisor helped me access our forbidden archives. They spoke of twelve souls with the potential to end ‘The Symphony.’"

  "And the mark?" Tris asked, his voice dropping even lower.

  In answer, Eli turned and pulled aside the collar of her tunic, revealing three interlocking circles at the base of her neck.

  Tris exhaled slowly. "I bear the same." He showed her his own mark, identical in every detail.

  "What does it mean?" she asked, though her tone suggested she already had theories.

  "I believe we are two of the twelve Sovereigns meant to converge," Tris began, but Eli was already shaking her head.

  "I don’t think I’m a Sovereign," she corrected. "The texts were clear—I'm probably something else." She hesitated, then added, "The ancient Drow records call it a 'twin flame'—two halves of the same soul paired together, amplifying each others’ potential."

  Tris considered this. It aligned with what he had found in the Vampire archives, though those texts had used different terminology. "The Hieros Gamos," he murmured. "The divine coupling."

  Eli nodded, her expression solemn. "Our bloodlines have been kept separate for a reason, Tris. The Anunnaki fear what might happen if—" She stopped abruptly, as if only now fully realizing the implications of their meeting.

  "If we recognize each other," Tris finished quietly. "If we remember who we truly are. If we combine and pool our power…"

  The air between them seemed to vibrate with unspoken possibility. Instinctively, they both placed their medallions on the altar stone. The inscriptions glowed brighter, and for a brief moment, the two disks appeared to move toward each other as if magnetically drawn.

  "I've dreamed of this moment," Eli whispered. "Of you. But the reality is..."

  "Terrifying?" Tris suggested.

  "Exhilarating," she corrected, her eyes meeting his with an intensity that made his breath catch.

  Something within Tris responded to that wild spark in her gaze. All his life he had been the thoughtful one, the philosophical Prince who measured words and actions with careful precision. But in Eli's presence, he felt a different self emerging—a self that might laugh more freely, move more boldly.

  "We have until dawn," he said, acutely aware of the time constraints. "Tell me everything you've discovered about the this ‘Symphony.’"

  For the next several hours, they shared knowledge forbidden to all but the highest ranks of their respective bloodlines. Eli's animated storytelling style contrasted with Tris's more measured approach, but together they assembled a clearer picture of Earth's true history than either had managed alone.

  They learned they had been born on the same day, at the same hour. That both had been plagued by similar dreams since childhood. That both were expected to enter arranged marriages to maintain the purity of their bloodlines.

  "I can't go through with it," Eli said as moonlight shifted across the clearing. "Not now that I've met you. It would be like marrying a stranger while my true partner stood watching."

  Tris felt the same certainty. "There must be a way to break free of these arrangements without causing open conflict between our bloodlines."

  "Or worse, direct intervention from our 'benefactors,'" Eli added, her use of the euphemism carrying the same ironic tone Tris had employed earlier.

  As they talked, something remarkable happened—the initial awkwardness between them melted away completely, replaced by a comfort that felt ancient, as if they were old friends reuniting rather than strangers meeting for the first time.

  Eli laughed more easily than anyone Tris had ever known, her entire body expressing her joy. She gestured broadly when making important points, occasionally touching his arm or shoulder for emphasis—casual contact that would be considered improper in both their societies. Tris found himself relaxing in ways he never had at court, sharing thoughts he'd never voiced aloud.

  "You're different than I expected," Eli admitted during a lull in their conversation.

  "How so?"

  "More... contained. In my dreams, you were this mysterious, brooding figure with intense eyes and dramatic pronouncements." She grinned. "The reality is more subtle. You think before you speak. You watch and listen. It’s refreshing."

  "And you're less serious than I imagined," Tris countered with a small smile. "The Drow Princess in Vampire lore is a solemn, mystical being who communes with stones and shadows."

  Eli burst into laughter. "Is that what your people think? That we sit around talking with rocks all day?" She shook her head, eyes dancing with amusement. "We're not all that different from you—we love, we argue, we create. We just do it underground with better fashion sense."

  Tris found himself chuckling, the sound unfamiliar to his own ears. When had he last laughed freely? "Your 'fashion sense' involves an awful lot of spiders."

  "Says the man whose formal wear includes a cape," she retorted, eyes twinkling.

  Their banter continued as stars wheeled overhead. Viktor and Lyra occasionally glanced their way, surprised by the easy rapport developing between the heirs of two long-separated bloodlines.

  All too soon, Lyra approached with regret evident in her expression. "Fair Princess, the eastern sky lightens. We must return before your absence is discovered."

  Eli's face fell, the joy of the past hours giving way to the reality of their situation. "How much time do we have?"

  "Two hours at most," Lyra replied. "Even with the passages, we'll barely make it back before the morning ceremonies begin."

  Tris felt the same reluctance to end their meeting. "When can we meet again?"

  "The birthday celebrations continue for three days," Eli said, thinking quickly. "Tomorrow night? Same location?"

  Tris nodded. "I'll find a way to slip away again." He hesitated, then added, "We need a more concrete plan than just meetings in the forest. If we're to truly understand our purpose—"

  "We need access to more information," Eli finished his thought. "My father's private archives might contain records even more ancient than what I've found. And there are rumors of a hidden chamber beneath our central temple."

  "The Vampire kingdom has similar restricted areas," Tris agreed. "If we could combine our knowledge..."

  Eli's eyes lit up with sudden inspiration. "What if we did more than that? What if we visited each other's archives? You could see things with fresh eyes that I might miss, and I could do the same for yours."

  The boldness of the suggestion momentarily stunned Tris. Entering each other's kingdoms would escalate their rebellion from secret meetings to active infiltration.

  "It would be incredibly dangerous," he said slowly.

  "Which is exactly why it might work," Eli countered. "No one would expect such audacity."

  Before Tris could respond, Viktor called urgently from the perimeter. "Movement in the western woods. Approaching fast."

  "And from the east," Lyra added, her body tensing. "Multiple signatures."

  Tris and Eli exchanged alarmed glances. Patrol teams from both kingdoms, converging on their location? The timing was too precise to be coincidence.

  "We've been discovered," Tris concluded grimly.

  Eli grabbed her medallion from the altar stone, quickly concealing it. "We need to separate. If they find us together—"

  "The consequences would extend beyond just us," Tris agreed, retrieving his own medallion.

  A silent understanding passed between them. Whatever connection had sparked during these brief hours together, they couldn't risk open confrontation between their bloodlines. Not yet. Not until they understood more about their purpose.

  "Tomorrow night," Eli whispered urgently. "The old temple ruins two miles north of here. If either of us can't make it, we leave a sign—a white ribbon for you, blue for me."

  Tris nodded, committing the plan to memory. An impulse seized him—he reached out and grasped her hand briefly, a gesture that sent an almost electric current through his arm. "Be careful."

  "You too, Vampire," she replied with a flash of her crooked smile, though concern shadowed her eyes.

  They moved in opposite directions, rejoining their respective companions at the edge of the stone circle. With one last glance at each other, they disappeared into the forest—Eli and Lyra heading east, Tris and Viktor west, each racing to return before the approaching patrols could intercept them.

  As Tris ran through the predawn forest, the weight of their discovery pressed upon him. They had found each other, yes, but in doing so had taken their first steps on a path that could lead to freedom or destruction—not just for themselves, but potentially for all bloodlines.

  The sky continued to lighten behind him, marking not just the end of night, but the beginning of something momentous. Whether it would prove salvation or catastrophe remained to be seen.

  All he knew with certainty was that he would move heaven and earth to see those wild blue eyes again.