The child's footprints glistened with morning dew as they led Julian and Sabrina to the oldest grave in Shadowmere.
Julian crouched, his fingers sinking into disturbingly warm soil. "This earth was dug up last night." His lantern light caught on something white—a tiny finger bone, still streaked with fresh marrow.
Sabrina's breath hitched. That single sound sent Julian's pulse racing, his body moving instinctively between her and the grave. The way he had a hundred times since they'd broken the curse. The way he always would.
"Not Lyra's remains," Julian confirmed, turning the bone to reveal tiny teeth marks.
A giggle danced through the willow branches.
Sabrina's hand found Julian's shoulder, her touch electric even through layers of wool and fear. "We should go," she whispered, her lips brushing his ear in a way that wasn't entirely necessary.
The willows stopped breathing.
Then—
A thud.
The girl stood three paces away, her nightgown streaked with grave dirt, her violet eyes glowing with otherworldly light. "Mother," she sighed, stretching arms toward Sabrina. "You came back for me."
Julian felt Sabrina's fingers dig into his arm—not in fear, but in terrible recognition.
The earth erupted.
Skeletal hands dragged Sabrina down, her scream cutting off as soil filled her mouth. Julian lunged, grabbing her wrist just as the child whispered:
"Father shouldn't touch what belongs to the grove."
CHAPTER END: Sabrina's skin sprouted thorns where Julian gripped her, piercing his palm with wounds that bloomed violet.