Novels by ARI✨✨

EpilogueSam's POVIt’s been half a decade since we stood there, under damp stars, ripping the faded agreement into slow strips. That moment on the shore rewrote everything - no hesitations, just us deciding to stay. Time moved like tide after that, pulling forward without asking. The paper meant nothing once our hands let go. Choosing one another felt less like risk, more like return.Life at the Sterling estate moved differently now, alive in ways unseen until today. Across open grass laughter rang out, breaking years of quiet strain. Sunlight poured through windows of the east wing, once shut tight against sorrow, now wide open for kids to run and shout. Darkness had lifted without warning. What stayed behind felt warm, full of noise, real breath - a family stitching itself back together, piece by fragile piece.Over the railing, I leaned into Ethan’s hold, his chin gentle against my skin. Not far below, our toddlers darted

Sam's POVBack at the suite, fingers still linked, the breeze touched us like a whisper. Silence sat easy. Full. Heavy with what we’d lived through, yet light with what now waited ahead.Out on the balcony, my mind wandered, unaware of what Ethan had already set in motion. Candles dotted the space inside, their light dancing in small pools along the walls. From somewhere unseen, notes floated - slow, tender, filling corners before settling into skin. White sheets lay crisp, the bed open like an invitation left by silent hands. Time stretched thin, without demand or question. Stillness held us, not because we planned it, but because we meant it.Behind us, the door clicked shut. He faced me then. His gaze held mine - deep with love, respect, a soft wonder that stole air from my lungs. Not like before. Not cautious. Not testing. This felt sure. Full. Like coming back after long absence. Like joy given shape.Close up, Ethan brought his hands to my fac

Sam's POVA few lights blinked awake above, each appearing slow, as if watching what passed between me and you. Quietly they came, spaced apart, filling the dark with something close to understanding.Out there on the ledge, Ethan pulled me close, his words lingering like warmth against my skin - “Starting now, ready for what comes?” His gaze locked onto mine, full of something deep, once scary but now steady. It didn’t shake me anymore. Held firm. Like roots finding soil where none existed before.His face held my gaze, deep and quiet, until fear slipped away - gone as if burned off by dawn light.Years folded into each other, weighed down by double the grief, shaped by distrust pressed deep beneath skin. A flinch before every kindness, always ready for harm instead of warmth - happiness seemed distant, like a rumor about others’ lives. Then came a shift: pressure eased, just slightly. The weight didn’t vanish - but it slipp

Ethan's POVBeneath the dim glow of streetlights, breath hung slow in the cool openness. A quiet hum ran through the railing, almost like it was breathing too.Wrapped around her, I held Sam close, my arms locking gently as her back met my chest beneath scattered light from the hillside homes blending into pale moon rays. Each curve found its match in me, like old wounds, rough decisions, years lived tough - had pulled us to this moment without warning. The rise and fall of her breath reached me first, slow and sure, a calm grown deep only after long seasons hauling burdens meant for twice the soul.Her body close to mine, I leaned in and kissed the curve of her neck, pulling her scent deep into my lungs. This one right here - she walked out of a grave others never escape. Betrayal tried to break her. Poison ran through her veins. Silence surrounded her. Fear clawed at her every step. Yet her hand found mine anyway.Slowly, she faced me. Even in shadows,

Sam's POV“What are you thinking about?”Out here, high above the grounds, Ethan whispered close, holding me steady from behind. Night draped itself completely across the property by then, sky bright with sharp pinpricks of light tossed carelessly overhead. Resting into him felt natural, his heat pushing through where the breeze tried to bite. Stars blinked down without hurry, indifferent, while his breath stirred my hair again.Spinning gently within his hold, I met his gaze. Softness lived there, along with stillness, and something steady that wore down my defenses piece by piece. Light from the moon carved his cheekbones, showed me who stood before me - someone picked not because I needed to, but because I finally believed. Quiet truth sat in his expression, earned through time, not given lightly.“I was thinking about revenge,” I said softly, my fingers tracing the collar of his shirt. “I thought destroying Gwen and Victo

Sam's POVOutside my room, the balcony held onto sunset's glow as if it knew I'd arrive late.There by the rail, my palms flat against the cold stone, colors bled across the horizon - orange melting into pink, then bruising into purple. Out beyond the edge, water flickered under shifting light, each wave arriving just as the last one faded. Air drifted through, bringing sea tang mixed with something sweet, maybe flowers opening in the dark. Stillness settled in. No rush. Moments like this do not fix things - they simply let them be, like exhaling after too long without knowing you were clenched.Thoughts wandered, like they occasionally do now, toward who I used to be - back when I was her.That person passed away by themselves in the eastern part of this same property.Even now, the last days cling sharp in my mind - how strength drained bit by bit, silence pressing close like fabric too tight. Gwen brought tea with a grin that never reached her e

Lily POVIt had been five days since Lila returned from the Rite of Elderwood.I sat in the academy’s main dining hall with Julianna and Lyra, pushing food around my plate. The usual chatter filled the room, but my eyes kept drifting toward the entrance.“She’s been… different,” I said quietly.Julianna looked up. “Still no improvement?”Before I could answer, the doors opened.Lila walked in.She was dressed entirely in black — a sleek, high-collared outfit that made her look older and more imposing. Her posture was straighter, her steps confident and measured, almost regal. The usual warmth in her face was gone.She didn’t even glance in my direction.With a casual flick of her hand, she used telekinesis to pull plates and utensils from three different tables at once, arranging them neatly in front of her as she sat down alone. Several students whispered, staring o

Lila POVThe Worldroot Tree stood before me like a god.It was colossal — easily the height of the academy’s tallest tower. Its trunk was ancient, gnarled, and pulsing with deep emerald and golden light that flowed like blood through veins. The air around it vibrated with raw, primordial power. Fallen branches lay scattered at its base like offerings. Safe. Traditional. The choice every other candidate had made for centuries.I stared up at the living branches still attached to the tree, glowing with immense energy.My body was screaming.Blood dripped from multiple cuts across my arms and side. My legs trembled with exhaustion. My mana reserves were nearly empty, flickering dangerously. Every breath burned.But the anger… the anger was still there.Burning hotter than ever.I took one shaky step forward.You’re powerful enough on your own.Lily’s cold voice echoed in

Lila POVThe portal closed behind me with a soft, final thrum.I stood alone in a world that felt alive.The Aetherwood Realm. Towering trees stretched endlessly upward, their bark pulsing with faint veins of emerald and gold light. The air was thick, humid, and heavy with raw, the sky blood red, untamed mana. Roots moved slowly across the forest floor like living veins. Leaves whispered even though there was no wind. Everything felt aware. Watching.I took a deep breath and started walking.The Rite of Elderwood had began. My last real chance to prove I wasn’t just Lily’s lesser twin.The forest resisted me almost immediately.Vines slithered toward my ankles like serpents. I burned them away with a sharp burst of flame. The moment I used the magic, the trees around me seemed to shudder. Shadows detached from the trunks — creatures made of darkness and hunger. They lunged at me, drawn to the mana I had rele

Julianna POVThe morning of the staff test felt heavier than usual.I stood with Lyra near the edge of the main courtyard, watching students gather around a large ceremonial platform. The air hummed with anticipation and nervous energy. In the center stood Lila. She hadn’t smiled once since arriving.“She’s been training like a demon for weeks,” I said quietly to Lyra. “What exactly is this Rite of Elderwood? Why does it matter so much to her?”Lyra crossed her arms, her expression unusually serious.“It’s not just a test, Julie. It’s one of the most important rituals for mages. The Rite of Elderwood determines whether you’re worthy of wielding a Staff — a physical symbol that you’ve reached a higher class of magic. It’s like earning a badge that says ‘I’m on another level.’”She nodded toward Lila. “Lily got hers when she was really y

Lila POVThe training yard was empty when I stormed back into it, the sun already dipping low behind the academy walls. My boots kicked up dust with every angry step. My hands still trembled from the confrontation with Lily. The words kept replaying in my head like a curse I couldn’t shake.Better things.I stopped in the center of the yard, chest heaving. The dummy I had destroyed earlier still lay in pieces around me. I stared at the wreckage, breathing hard, feeling the familiar burn of humiliation and rage twisting together in my stomach.She had promised.She had looked me in the eye and said she would help me prepare for the Rite of Elderwood — the one I had failed every single year. This was supposed to be my year. My chance to finally prove I wasn’t just the lesser twin. The spare. The one who tried hard but never quite measured up.And she hadn’t even shown up.I clenched my fists. Mana crackled

Lila POVAlone in the training yard, my shadow stretched thin under a slanting sun. Cracks webbed through the stones beneath me. A sharp tang lingered - ozone, burnt soil - the leftover breath of old magic. Time crawled past sixty minutes before anyone showed.Lily never showed up like she said she would. She should have been around by now.She had promised.It started three days back when I spotted her among the shelves, quiet like always. Not rushing it, I approached with a question held tight between my teeth. Careful wording mattered more than luck that afternoon. Would she help me prepare for the upcoming test? Each previous try ended the same way - failure. Year after year, nothing changed until now. This round felt different even if hope usually burns too fast. Losing wasn’t an option anymore, not this time around.Her head dipped slightly, eyes still fixed on the page. "Fine. I will come."But she didn’t.Pacing back and forth across the dirt, each step stirred tiny puffs of d