She lifted her head and stared at the tiny spark, no bigger than the head of a pin. No matter which way she turned her head, her gaze still came back to it. The same flicker of light from earlier, during her confrontation with the Dark Lady.

The monks’ chant as they entered Nor Esen during the Festival of Light filled her mind.

A song about the darkness, and the light that came when all was lost.

As if sensing the words within her, the light grew, expanding the flame.

A light that spread across the lands.

Now the flame was as big as a bonfire, and still it grew, devouring the darkness around her.

A light that darkness could not extinguish.

The light grew brighter and brighter until Selene ducked her head and brought her arm up to her face to shield her eyes. Even then, bright light seeped between her lids, more blazing than the whitest light.

Dreamer.

The light tenor voice was similar to Damien’s, and yet it seemed to hold so much more.

The light was so brilliant she couldn’t open her eyes. “Who are you?” she said, her head bowed and her arm still across her face.

You already know. I’ve been waiting for you.

The Light. She was as certain of it as she was the moment she declared she would follow him the rest of her life.

Dreamer, let me show you who I made you to be.

The light disappeared.

Selene found herself in her raven form, soaring above Rook Castle on a bright summer day. The Magyr Mountains were a deep green around the towering grey castle, and the sky above her was a clear, pale blue with rolling white clouds. Rook Castle looked magnificent from this high up, the architecture ancient and open.

Cool, soft wind glided past her black wings, allowing her to soar along the slipstreams. The sun’s bright rays warmed her back and head. There was a peace here, high above everything, a peace that soothed her heart.

She hovered for a moment, then dove for the towers below. Just as she reached the ramparts, she turned hard to the left, then pumped her wings as she sped back upward.

The wind caught her and lifted her higher. Selene let the air carry her and sighed. Her wings were spread wide as if embracing the wind itself. Her heart gave a wistful twinge. If only Amara could have experienced this.

As she reached the pinnacle of her ascent, she caught sight of a lush green forest to the south.

Wait.

That couldn’t be right. There was no forest there, not for miles beyond the Magyr Mountains. Unless . . .

She glanced toward the west. Beyond the Omega Wastelands she could see Ironmond, the capital of House Friere. Even though she had never seen it, she knew it was Ironmond by the descriptions she had heard from her mother. And north of Ironmond lay the city of Shanalona.