Haylee's POV
“Stay… stay behind me,” I whisper at Kael and Lior, stepping to shield Kael and Lior entirely from the Elder.
The silver light still pulses in their little bodies, moving along with my mood as if they were alive. I feel it reaching out to my own power, pleading with me to let it free, to teach this old thing just what the True Alpha mother of its offspring can do when her pups are threatened.
“Interesting,” the Elder whispers, moving a step closer again. The accumulated gravitas from centuries settles into his voice; every word measured. “The prophecy described children who would save or damn us all. Now I can understand why everybody was so... eager to take them.”
Xavier is frozen in mid lunge, locked as a beast form with Elders magic although black eyes shifting his attention all around the room. Transformed into that berserker nightmare, I can see him listening, plotting, waiting, to hit it again.
“They’re just kids,” I say, struggling to keep my voice from shaking whi
