Hunting the Arbors

It's only been a few weeks since the Arbors barely survived their encounter with Mathias. Since then, despite all the years of fighting and genocide, they have not seen one demon and Declan thinks they might finally be able to rebuild. The small clan is just starting to settle into their new life out of hiding. Holidays are approaching, changes to Alia, Galvin, and the groves are thankfully slowing down, and now they can start looking for the truth of what happened to Evelyn.

But things are not as peaceful as they had hoped. The once-trusted World Council of Magic Peoples have criminalized Declan's emergence from hiding. Alia battles vivid nightmares of Lucian stalking her, even though he's supposed to be dead. Galvin struggles with adopting his new role as a druid and finding his footing in this new relationship with Alia. When the World Council places a representative in their home to watch and report, Declan fumes at their overreach. But with Galvin and Alia being sent on a questionable mission for the Council, he knows any defiance might leave them vulnerable. It couldn't happen at a worse time - the groves recall all their magic at Halloween to grow a year's worth of power.

The Arbors are defenseless against the Council's depredations, Alia's tangible nightmares, and a mysterious enemy pulling the strings behind the whole thing. Possibly the same unknown enemy who started their ancient feud with Mathias. Declan fears the few druids remaining will not be enough to withstand assaults from so many directions.