Novels by Hatzia Apoty

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

Aria’s POVThe forest had gone quiet again. Too quiet.Kael and I slowed to a stop near a cluster of mossy rocks. The air was thick with damp and the faint metallic scent of blood. We’d been walking for hours, following no clear path, and I was starting to think the forest itself was watching us.Kael’s shoulders were stiff. “Something’s wrong,” he muttered.I was about to ask what he meant when a growl cut through the silence.Another followed, then another.The first rogue burst from the shadows, slamming into the ground between us. Kael didn’t hesitate… his Core flared red as he met the beast head-on. The air cracked with energy as he landed a heavy strike to its neck.Two more came next. I jumped back, forcing my Core to flicker just enough to knock one off balance without revealing its true color. My pulse hammered as Kael tore through the second rogue, gritting his teeth.“What the hell?” he yelled over the noise. “These things shouldn’t even be here!”I didn’t answerThen, out

Seraphina’s POVI watched as Aiden and Kael made their way through the forest. They were definitely a fascinating pair.The kiss I had given the Draven Heir was just to fluster him a bit… I didn’t think he was that capable. There was potential there, more than I expected.One of the council members walked in, slightly trembling. How ironic — the council for a male heir academy, afraid of a single woman.Not that I was complaining. I absolutely loved it.“Lady Seraphina,” the man stammered, bowing low. “The first phase has begun. The rogues have been released into the southern and eastern regions. But…” he hesitated, “we’ve already lost two heirs.”I turned my gaze toward the large crystal that projected the image of the forest. My lips curved faintly as I saw the chaos beginning to unfold, heirs scattering, wolves fighting for dominance, fear filling the air.“Good,” I said simply.The man swallowed. “Good? With all due respect, Lady Seraphina, the Cull Trials were forbidden for a reas

Aria’s POVThe morning was quiet. Too quiet.No birds, no wind, not even the sound of insects. Just the faint crackle of what was left of last night’s fire.Kael was already awake. He sat a few feet away, sharpening his blade. His expression was serious, focused, nothing like the usual smugness I was used to.I got up, stretching a little. The air was colder than before, and when I looked up, the sky was pale orange instead of blue. Something felt different.I pulled my blanket tighter and turned in a slow circle. That’s when I noticed the claw marks on a nearby tree. They were deep, too deep for any normal wolf. The grooves looked like something had tried to tear the bark off completely.Kael followed my gaze. He didn’t say anything, but the way his jaw tightened said he noticed too.We packed up and started moving. The deeper we went into the forest, the stranger things looked. One area looked like autumn, with orange leaves and dry grass. Then, a few steps later, everything turne

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,