Novel-novel oleh Hatzia Apoty

Luca's POV Where was I? Why did I feel like I was drowning? My hands felt stiff and my lungs felt like they were filled with water. I looked up through blurry eyes. Kael stood before me. My little brother. Ah.. when did he grow up so much?I stretched to hug him but I couldn't move. Instead it seemed my body had a mind of his own, lunging towards him. Wait… wait…. Before I could stop myself, I struck him. Kael dodged and struck back. Why were we fighting? Why was I fighting my little brother? Stop. Stop it.My body didn't listen.It never listened anymore. Not since the vial. Whatever I'd put into myself had taken the wheel, and all I could do was watch through glass as my hands reached for my brother again and again.Kael was fast. Faster than I remembered. He moved like he'd been built for this, ducking under my swing and driving his elbow into my ribs. Pain flared white and sharp.I felt it. I just couldn't stop.Kill him, something said from inside me. The voice I'd fed fo

Kaels POV The smart thing would have been to move. I didn't.I stood there, blade still in my hand, and just — looked at him. Like my body had decided on its own that this particular moment needed a second.Luca.He looked older. The scar I remembered being fresh was healed now, pale and permanent against his jaw. He had our father's eyes, the same shape, the same color. Right now they were fixated on me with hatred.What exactly had I done to him? “Nothing to say, I was expecting at least a hug” He looked smug. Like he'd planned every step of tonight and was enjoying the part where I realized it.I felt my grip tighten on the hilt.”Move. Just move.I couldn't.And that was the thing that actually made me angry — not him. Not the trap, not the men on the ground, not the fact that my team was standing behind me watching this happen.Me. I was angry at myself.Days of telling myself that if I ever saw him again, I'd finish it. And here I was, hesitating.Her voice cut through the f

Aria’s POV The fire was dead by the time Kael said move.Then he just stood, adjusted the strap of his pack, and walked northeast into the dark. The rest of us followed.That alone told me something was different about him.The Kael I'd come to know would've made an announcement. He would've said something sharp and self-satisfied just to remind us all who was leading. But this version walked ahead in silence, his shoulders set with his pace steady. He didn’t make any performance. It was somehow unsettling.Mirabel walked beside me, quiet for once. Even she seemed to sense that this wasn't the moment.Darius fell into step on my other side without warning."You ready?" he asked, low enough that only I heard."Yes," I said.He glanced at me sideways and gave me a calm look. He seemed mildly disappointedI hated how much that look got under my skin.We walked for nearly an hour before Mirabel broke the silence."Where exactly are we heading?" she asked, directing it at Kael's back."R

Aria’s POV Kael had gone ahead to scout with Darius, leaving me and Mirabel to tend to the small campfire we’d managed to build. The flames were weak, fighting the damp air.For a while, neither of us spoke. The sound of burning wood filled the silence until Mirabel finally turned to me.“I never got to thank you properly,” she said, her voice low but steady. “For that day in the garden. When you stood up for me.”I glanced at her, surprised. “That? It was nothing.”“It wasn’t nothing,” she said quickly. “Everyone else just stood there. Even Kael didn’t do anything.”That last part earned a faint smile from me. “Yeah, that sounds like him.”She smiled back but it faded quickly. Her gaze dropped to the fire. “You didn’t have to step in. You could’ve ignored it.”“Maybe,” I said, poking the fire with a stick. “But I couldn’t. You didn’t deserve that.”For a moment, she didn’t respond. Then, softly, “You’re different, Aiden. Not like the others.”I froze, unsure what to say to that. She

Luca’s POV The scout hit the ground hard, wheezing. I didn’t even need to ask; the blood on his sleeve said enough.“They’re gone,” he stammered. “Kael… he—he wiped them out.”I stared down at him, the firelight from our camp flickering against his face. His fear was almost pathetic.“Which ones?” I asked quietly.“Roth, Jalen, and Venn.”Three of my best.I crouched, resting a hand on his shoulder. He flinched like I’d struck him. “And who was with him?”“The Ironclaw heir… and the Alpha-King’s son.”So. He had allies now.I smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach my eyes. “Kael finally found friends. How sweet.”The scout swallowed hard, unsure whether to stay silent or run. I spared him the choice — one clean twist, and his neck snapped. He dropped to the dirt, motionless.“Bury him,” I told the others. “He talked too much anyway.”As they dragged the body away, I turned toward the fire. The forest around us was dark, the air heavy with smoke and the stench of blood. A few of the

Aria’s POVIt must’ve been close to midnight when I woke up. The fire had burned down to faint orange embers, and the forest was quiet.I stretched a little, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. That’s when I heard voices. Low, close by.Kael and Darius.I stayed still, pretending to be asleep.“…you’ve been acting strange lately,” Darius said quietly. “Especially around him.”Kael gave a small, tired laugh. “You’re imagining things.”“I don’t think I am,” Darius replied. “You’re on edge. You watch him constantly. You think no one notices?”He paused. “Are you gay?”There was a short pause, the sound of Kael shifting against the tree trunk.“You’re overthinking things,” Kael said finally. “Ironclaw’s just… unpredictable. Someone has to keep an eye on him.”Darius hummed softly, clearly unconvinced. “If you say so.”The silence that followed made my chest tighten. I almost sat up just to stop it, but then Darius spoke again, this time, his voice had changed, it became low and serious.“Have

Mia's POVI couldn't sleep.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw my father's handwriting. I heard Roger's voice and felt the weight of that letter pressing against my chest even though it was tucked safely in my pack.Wolf and dragon blood. Blessed by the goddess.What did that even mean?I sat up, pulling my cloak tighter around my shoulders. The fire had burned down to embers, casting faint orange light across the clearing.Mirabel sat at the edge of camp, her back straight, spear resting across her lap. She didn't move but I knew she'd heard me shift.She probably had it worse, her sister Lena is missing and her brother was nearly demolished. Alastor was stretched out near the fire, apparently asleep. His breathing was even, relaxed, like he didn't have a care in the world.And Orion...Orion sat against a tree on the opposite side of the fire, arms crossed, staring at nothing.Or maybe staring at me.When our eyes met, he looked away.I stood quietly and walked over to Mirabel."Ca

Mia's POVThe moment I saw him, my blood ran cold.White hair. That confident smirk. The way he moved like the world owed him something.It was him.The man from Thornveil. The one who'd disappeared mid-fight like smoke.My hand went to my dagger before I could think."You," I said, voice sharp.Alastor's smile widened. "Ah. You remember me. I'm flattered.""Flattered?" I stepped forward, anger burning through my chest. "You attacked me in Thornveil. You knew my name. You—""Tested you," he interrupted smoothly. "And you passed. Barely."I lunged.Orion caught my arm before I could reach him. "Mia, wait—""Let go of me," I snapped, trying to pull free."Not until you calm down."I glared at him, then at Alastor, who just stood there looking amused."She's got spirit," Alastor said. "Varick would be proud."That stopped me cold."What did you just say?"Alastor's expression shifted, the amusement fading into something more serious."Your father," he said quietly. "Varick Esbond. I knew

Orion's POVI didn't sleepEvery time I closed my eyes, I saw the hideout. The blood. Draven barely breathing. Mia's face when she read that letter.Roger is my uncle.I sat by the window in my chambers, watching the sky shift from black to deep blue to the pale gray of pre-dawn. Somewhere out there, Alastor Veyr was waiting. Whether he knew we were coming or not didn't matter.We'd find him.And when we did, he'd talk.I stood, stretched, and started checking my gear. Blade, sharp. Daggers, secured. Armor, light enough to move but strong enough to matter.I paused at the small silver emblem tucked into my coat pocket—the one I used to call Ramiris. My fingers brushed against it, then pulled away.Not yet.A soft knock came at the door."It's open," I called.Mirabel stepped inside, already dressed for travel. Her armor was dark and practical, her spear strapped across her back. She looked me over once, then nodded."You're ready," she said. It wasn't a question."Always am."She rais

Orion's POVGetting back to Thornveil was harder than leaving it.Draven could barely stand, let alone walk. We had to strap him to Sylvie's back, and even then, every beat of her wings made him groan. Mia sat in front of him, one hand holding him steady, the other clutching that damned letter like it might disappear if she let go.She hadn't said a word since we left the hideout.Not one.I'd tried talking to her twice. She didn't respond. Just stared ahead, jaw tight, eyes distant.I knew that look.She was spiraling.Normally, I'd make some stupid joke to snap her out of it. But this wasn't the time. Not after what she'd just learned.Roger is my uncle.The churches want me.My father traded me away.Any one of those would break someone. All three at once?Yeah. Silence made sense.Sylvie descended slowly as we approached Thornveil's outer walls. The guards spotted us immediately—hard not to notice a massive silver dragon landing in the middle of the night.By the time we touched d

Mia's POVThe footsteps stopped.I pressed myself against the wall, dagger ready, every muscle coiled tight. Draven's breathing was shallow behind me, each exhale wet and rattling."Stay quiet," I whispered.He didn't answer. Couldn't answer, probably.The silence stretched too long. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, so loud I was sure whoever was out there could hear it.Then a voice cut through the darkness, calm and cold."Mia Esbond. Daughter of the heretic."I froze.The voice continued, footsteps resuming. "You can hide, but it won't matter. Your father's sins have marked you. The church has come to collect."Church?My grip tightened on the dagger. I didn't know which church, didn't know what they wanted, but I knew one thing for certain—they weren't here to talk.A shadow moved across the doorway.Then another.Then three more.Five figures stepped into the chamber, dressed in dark robes lined with silver thread. Their faces were covered by masks carved to look like weeping s

Orion’s POVThe celebration dragged on longer than it needed to.I sat beside Lyre, nodding when I was expected to, responding when spoken to, lifting my cup when the others did. Laughter filled the hall, music followed, and the people of Thornveil looked relieved for the first time in years.I should have felt the same.I was glad Lyre was alive. Glad she was still herself, stubborn and sharp-tongued, still able to smile even after everything she had lost. Reuniting with her mattered to me. It always had.But this was not the end of anything. It was only a pause.There were still too many loose ends.Mia.My gaze drifted across the hall again, more obvious this time. Nobles, warriors, servants, even a few pack elders lingering near the edges. I scanned faces, cloaks, corners.She was not here.At first, I told myself she had stepped outside. Mia hated crowds, hated rituals, hated anything that smelled like politics. It would not be strange for her to disappear halfway through.Still,