Chapter 4. Helena POV

Things are going from bad to worse. Not only has Ivan written to confirm he is returning with Azalea in the next two weeks, but a new vision has also emerged.

The last time I had such a strangely specific recurring dream every element came true. The blue four-poster bed of Bram's room, my feet being dragged barefoot through the grass as I was rescued from the burning ballroom and the silver blade stained with ruby-red drops of blood. I would have lost Alexander that day if it hadn't been for those visions, it made me realise he was in danger and I managed to save him from being crushed. My heart was in my stomach as I wrote down the details, fighting the urge to throw up as I urgently scribbled the remnants of my memory.

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Bloodshot, tear-stained grey eyes looking through smoke, a golden goblet with rubies around the rim. 

A man with three scars across his neck, dressed in black, stood over the lifeless body of Alexander who was bleeding heavily somewhere outdoors

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At least you have a starting point Fyre muttered in an attempt to remain positive. I wrote every dream down and then locked the notebook away but after a week of waking up in terror, I needed to stop kidding myself. Every night so far the dream ended with me hearing my own heart-rending scream. Thankfully Alexander was so tired my startled jolts into life didn't disturb him every night. I haven't thought what to say if I do wake him. Another lie to the pile Fyre sighed.

My notebook had become a battle plan of ideas. What could I do to affect this fate and maybe alter the course of the fate my dreams currently offer? Whatever I chose to do it had to be in place well before Azalea returned. 

Her uncanny ability to read my intentions and ruin them is too great a risk. I have no proof she was involved in this current scenario but it doesn't matter. She is the enemy as far I am concerned and nothing is going to convince me otherwise.

Azalea poisoned Alpha Romanov in cold blood. The old man had always been so kind to her and welcomed her when she joined as a timid little maidservant from Alpha Francis' outpost in the northern territory. 

Perhaps you're just still angry you never realised the girl you saw a sister was lying to you, Fyre urged. Nonsense, I'm just listening to facts I argued back sheepishly, getting back to the task at hand.

First, on the list, I wanted to find that goblet and destroy it. That seemed the easiest to tackle at least. I could take care of that one myself at least and not involve Alexander. Every time I saw him spread out in a pool of his own blood my heart wept. I am certain if I was to lose him I should die too from the pain.

I have to learn more about the man with the scars. Every night this hulking, muscular beast looms over my beautiful Alexander's ruined body. There was no place to hide from this fate. Alexander would never leave his pack and hide so I need to get to this guy first. Every other option needs exhausting before I break Alexander away from his Alpha duties for my worries.

As I scribble down thoughts and ideas for how to find this man Fyre nudges a thought into my head.

Bella has grey eyes.

And what, I snap back. She is safely locked away, not that I have seen her since that night. There will be other people with that eye colour out there.

Think about it, Fyre urged, when you dream tonight ask yourself if those are Bella’s eyes you are seeing. 

And the man with the three scars across his neck, who is that? Fyre offered nothing, my thoughts were my own. My instincts tell me he needs to be contained, it feels as though Fate is a darting snake I'm trying to catch in a bag. If I can get hold of this man before the dangerous time of my vision he can be locked up or at least away from Alexander.

Fyre murmured a dark thought, would you kill someone to save Alexander without them having done anything to you...yet?

My mind is whirring with too many thoughts and ideas, I push back my huge head of brown curls and bounce between the various room of the castle. The dramatically wood-panelled and tapestry covered library, dining rooms and parlours all get searched for that damn goblet. My long legs stalk down the corridor like I am on a countdown without a timer. My energy is impatient and anxious and I wish above everything I could tell Alexander.

He is holed up in talks with Alpha Dex from the Rising Star pack. They might be best friends but there is still much to resolve. From what Alexander has told me although we are the biggest pack, Bram's leadership saw us become the worst organised and therefore most vulnerable. I pace the corridors of the castle looking everywhere where drinking vessels might be stored. 

"Helena!" Kyra called across the hallway where I was rummaging through shelves of silverware. She ran up to me, still a puppy in human form of boundless energy, silver hair and shining eyes. She was my closest friend after Ivan and has never adapted to being formal with me as Luna. I loved that about her though. Her sweet innocence stopped me from being too jaded about everything going on.

"I finally have you to myself! Let's go let's go let's go!"

Strolling arm in arm with the over-excited Kyra, I decided to make two plans. One for if my next dream persuaded me the eyes belonged to Bella Penkov and the other...well I hadn't managed to even think that far yet.