Adrian's heart sank as he read through the letter, each word weighing heavily on him. Zack's letter—marked by the familiar seal of Count Keyz—who had been acting as the Count—contained news he had both feared and expected.

The Shadow Court was moving faster than any of them had anticipated.

************

"Adrian, my friend," the letter began in Zack's handwriting, "word of your actions in Brenden has reached the Shadow Court. I've heard from my sources that they are unsettled by the defeat of their forces and the growing resistance in the region.

Though I do not know where or when, my informants have confirmed one crucial detail: the Shadow Court is accelerating its plans.

They are gathering for an emergency meeting. I don't have details yet—location, time, or specific objectives remain unknown—but I suspect this meeting will determine their next moves.

Stay vigilant. The Court knows what you've done, and they will come for you soon."

****************

Adrian's eyes lingered on the final words, his hand tightening around the parchment.

"What is it?" Queen Alannah asked, her sharp voice cutting through the silence that had fallen in the training room. She stepped closer, her green eyes narrowing as she read the concern on Adrian's face.

Without a word, Adrian handed her the letter. Alannah's eyes moved quickly over the lines, her expression hardening as she absorbed the information.

When she reached the end, her gaze shot back to Adrian. "We need to call a council meeting. Immediately."

Adrian nodded. "The Shadow Court is already moving. We don't have time to waste."

Alannah wasted no time. She turned and barked orders to the guards stationed outside the room. "Summon the council. All of them. Now. Tell them it is an emergency."

The guards bowed quickly and hurried off to spread the word, leaving Adrian and Alannah standing together in the quiet aftermath of the revelation.

Alannah turned back to him with a tense but controlled expression. "The fact that they're moving their plans forward means they feel threatened. You've disrupted them more than you realize, Adrian."

Adrian gave a short nod, his thoughts racing. "But it also means they're becoming more dangerous. Whatever they're planning, it's happening soon, and we need to be ready."

She met his gaze, her jaw tightening with resolve. "We'll face them head-on. Let's get to the war room. We'll discuss this with the others."

***********

It didn't take long for the council to gather. By the time Adrian and Queen Alannah entered the war room, most of Zarpha's key leaders were already present, including Faolan, Commander Aris, and a handful of military advisors.

The atmosphere was tense, everyone sensing that something urgent was about to be revealed.

Alannah took her place at the head of the table, and Adrian stood beside her, his presence commanding the attention of the room. The moment the doors closed, the Queen addressed the council.

"Thank you all for coming on such short notice," Alannah started, her voice calm but serious. "We have received urgent information concerning the Shadow Court. As you know, Adrian and his companions recently liberated the village of Brenden from their control. But there's more." She gestured for Adrian to step forward.

Adrian placed the letter on the table. "This letter comes from a powerful friend of mine. His sources confirm that the Shadow Court has heard of our success in Brenden, and they're responding. Their plans are accelerating. An emergency meeting is being called among the Court members."

A murmur spread throughout the room, heightening the tension. Commander Aris leaned forward. "An emergency meeting? Do we know where or when?"

Adrian shook his head. "Not yet. That information remains hidden, but what we do know is that they're moving faster than anticipated. They see us as a threat, and they're preparing for something—something big."

Faolan, who had been listening quietly, crossed his arms. "What do you propose we do? We can't strike if we don't know where they are."

Queen Alannah's eyes gleamed with determination as she spoke. "We may not have all the details, but that doesn't mean we sit idle. We strengthen our defenses, increase patrols around the city, and deploy more spies to gather intelligence."

Commander Aris nodded. "I'll send out additional scouts. We'll tighten security around Zarpha and beyond. If the Shadow Court makes a move, we'll know about it."

Faolan chimed in. "We should also ensure that our reinforcements to Brenden are equipped for a possible retaliation. The Shadow Court won't ignore that defeat."

The Queen's eyes softened slightly, showing her understanding. "Then that's our plan. We'll convene again once we have more information, but until then, we prepare for the worst." She turned to the room at large. "Thank you all. Let's move swiftly."

The council members rose from their seats, exchanging serious glances before filing out of the room. The atmosphere was heavy with the weight of what lay ahead, and Adrian could feel the gravity of the moment pressing down on his shoulders.

As the room emptied, Alannah turned to him. "What do you have planned, Adrian?"

Adrian took a deep breath. "I might have to leave sooner than planned. I can't wait for the Shadow Court to make the first move. I'll need to gather my allies."

The Queen reached out and placed a hand on his arm, her touch lingering for a moment longer than necessary. "Be careful. The Shadow Court is growing more dangerous by the day."

Adrian met her gaze, feeling the weight of her concern. "I will. And I'll return when I've found them."

**************

Later that evening, Adrian gathered the goddesses—Lilith, Abyss, Ava and Medea—and the priestess Selene in his chambers. The room was softly lit, with flickering candles creating shadows on the walls as they sat together.

Abyss, ever protective, was the first to speak. "What's wrong Adrian? What did the Queen say?"

Adrian shook his head as he scanned their faces. "The Shadow Court is moving faster than we expected. They know about Brenden, and they're not going to sit back and let us gather strength. We need to find the remaining goddesses—fast."

Lilith, lounging on one of the cushioned chairs with a lazy smile, raised an eyebrow. "And here I thought we'd have a little more time to enjoy Zarpha's luxuries. But if we must go goddess-hunting, I suppose I'm game."

Medea, who had been quiet, spoke up. "We can't afford to waste time. The Court is dangerous enough without the added pressure of them accelerating their plans. If we don't release our sisters soon, we won't be at full strength."

Selene, sitting quietly by the window, looked down at her hands, her soft voice filled with concern. "What happens if we don't find them in time? What if the Shadow Court strikes before we're ready?"

Adrian's expression softened as he met Selene's gaze. "We won't let that happen. We've come too far already. But it means we have to act now. Right now, Zarpha is making preparations but our top priority now is finding the remaining temples."

Lilith smirked, leaning back in her chair. "I do love a good hunt. The question is, where do we start?"

Adrian stood, pacing the room as he spoke. "Well, we have the map to guide us to the locations of the temple. I'm thinking though, maybe some of you stay behind just in case while I go find the temples."

"Not a great idea." Lilith said almost immediately.

Abyss crossed her arms, with a serious expression on her face. "I won't let you go off alone again. This time, we're all staying together."

Adrian gave a small, appreciative smile. "I understand your reservations but…."

"No buts, Adrian." Medea interrupted. "We go together, find our sisters and return in time. That's it."

The room fell into a thoughtful silence as they all considered the gravity of what lay ahead. The Shadow Court was a looming threat, and time was running out.

But as Adrian looked around the room at the goddesses and Selene, he felt a renewed sense of determination.

"We leave at first light," he said, his voice steady. "Our next destination is the temple to the east."

Lilith grinned. "Sounds like a plan. Let's just hope… infact, I hope we stumble on Eris' temple first. Someone needs to know she isn't the only possessive one."

Abyss smirked, but there was a fierceness in her eyes. "I won't give him up to any of you; not even Hera."

Medea nodded in agreement. "The sooner we are all free, the better our chances. Let's not waste any time."

Adrian felt the weight of their words, the urgency in their voices. The road ahead was uncertain, but together, they had a chance to stop the Shadow Court once and for all.

As the candles flickered low, Adrian glanced out the window, his mind already on the journey ahead. Tomorrow, their mission would take them deeper into the unknown, but for now, they would rest.

The final battle against the Shadow Court was drawing closer, and soon, everything would be decided.

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