Aria screamed as Liora's body crumpled to the ground.
"Liora!" she gasped, rushing forward, but Ren was already there.
He reached her first, dropping to his knees and gently scooping her up in his arms like she weighed nothing. "She just fainted," he muttered, but his voice trembled. His golden eyes flicked down to Liora's neck, and froze.
"What?" Aria asked, stepping closer. That is when she saw it too, a faded red mark on Liora's neck, shaped like a crescent moon bleeding into vines. It pulsed faintly, as if responding to some unseen force.
"What is going on?" Aria whispered, heart pounding.
Before Ren could answer, Elder Vaughn appeared out of nowhere, his long silver hair flowing behind him. "Take her to the pack hospital."
Ren nodded and ran off without a word, Liora limp in his arms.
Elder Vaughn turned to Aria, eyes glowing like frost under moonlight. "Go to the Moonstone Temple. Dax will escort you."
Aria blinked. "What? Why…?"
