Chapter 82A Dangerous GambleQuinton's POVAs we left the clearing, I could feel Fionaâs anguish radiating through every step she took. Her brother, Caleb, being alive was a twist none of us had anticipated, and it cut deeper than anything Lilith had thrown at us so far. But it wasnât just that. The real wound was seeing him twisted, loyal to the very enemy we were trying to stop. I wanted to say something to comfort her, but I knew words wouldnât help now. What Fiona needed was actionâand answers.âDo you think heâs too far gone?â she asked quietly, barely above a whisper.I looked over at her, unsure of what to say. Calebâs eyes had been emptyâcold. I wasnât sure what Lilith had done to him, but it felt like sheâd stripped him of something vital, something human. âI donât know,â I admitted. âBut weâre going to find out.âWe pushed through the underbrush, the night air thick with tension. I had to focus on the immediate problem: how to deal with Lilithâs growing power and Calebâs in
Chapter 81Revelations UnveiledFiona's POVThe shock of seeing my brother standing beside Lilith sent my mind into a whirlwind of confusion. For years, I thought he was dead. Killed when we were children, lost to a tragedy I could barely remember. But there he was, his eyes gleaming with that same dangerous light Iâd seen in my own reflection recently.My breath hitched, and for a moment, I couldnât speak. It was as though all the air had been sucked from my lungs. "Caleb?" I whispered, taking a cautious step forward.He didnât respond, his gaze cold and emotionless, like a stranger wearing my brotherâs face. The Caleb I remembered had a kindness in his eyes, a warmth. This man... was different. Darker. I couldnât feel any of the sibling bond weâd once shared. Instead, I felt the same oppressive energy Iâd always sensed from Lilithâonly now, it was doubled."Surprised to see him?" Lilithâs voice was like silk, dripping with malice. "Heâs been waiting for this moment for a long time.
Chapter 80A Dark RevelationFiona's POVThe darkness that swallowed the cave was absolute, suffocating. I couldnât see Quinton or even hear him. Panic began to bubble up inside me, making my chest feel tight. My heart pounded wildly, each beat echoing in my ears. I reached out, blindly, desperate to find him.âQuinton!â My voice cracked in the overwhelming silence.No response.My pulse quickened as I realized how alone I felt in this void, but I couldnât afford to lose myself to fear. I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing myself to focus. I could still sense Quintonâs presence somewhere near meâhis energy, that raw and protective aura, flickering through the dark. It was faint but there. I had to find him."Fiona..."His voice, strained and faint, came from somewhere close but distant, like he was calling from deep underwater. Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived.Lilith was still out there.My fists clenched, and I took a deep breath, trying to calm the wild thrum of magic bene
Chapter 79In The ShadowsFiona's POVThe caveâs air was thick with tension, as if the forest outside held its breath, waiting. I knelt beside Quinton, trying to stem the bleeding from his wounds. His skin was pale, far too pale, and his breaths were shallow. My heart clenched as I worked, pressing torn pieces of my shirt to his chest, wishing I knew more about healing."Youâll be okay," I whispered, though my voice trembled. I had to keep it together. For him.Quintonâs eyes fluttered open, glazed with pain but still sharp with concern. "We donât have time to stay here long.""Shh. Just rest," I insisted, but even as I said it, I knew he was right. That stranger wasnât done with us, not by a long shot. The fight was far from over, and the way the stranger had looked at me, like I was some kind of... weapon, sent a chill down my spine.I glanced toward the cave entrance, half-expecting to see a shadow creeping toward us. The night outside was pitch black, and though we had some time t
Chapter 78The Edge of ControlQuinton's POVPain shot through my body as the strangerâs hand pressed down harder on my chest, pinning me to the ground. I growled, baring my teeth, but it was no use. Whoever this new threat was, they were stronger than anyone Iâd ever faced. Fionaâs scream rang in my ears, but I couldnât focus on her right now. I had to break free, had to fight. But the strangerâs strength was overwhelming, their eyes cold and calculating as they gazed down at me, almost amused by my struggle.âYou really thought you could protect her?â the stranger taunted, their voice dripping with mockery. âYou donât even know what sheâs capable of.âMy muscles burned with the effort as I tried to push them off, but they didnât budge. I could feel their claws digging into my skin, sharp and unforgiving, and I knew if I didnât act soon, theyâd tear me apart. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Fiona standing there, her hands raised, her eyes glowing with that strange, uncontrollabl
Chapter 77Tangled FatesFiona's POVThe air crackled with lingering energy as I collapsed into Quintonâs embrace, the force of the power Iâd just unleashed still thrumming through my veins. My head swirled, a strange combination of exhaustion and exhilaration. The stones in the clearing had responded to me in a way I hadnât expectedâlike they had been waiting for me, for this moment. âWhat just happened?â I whispered, trying to make sense of the chaos that had unfolded. Quinton held me tightly, his heartbeat slowing as we stood in the eerie silence that followed the blast. The forest around us was still, as if the earth itself was holding its breath, waiting for what would come next.âI donât know,â he admitted, his breath warm against my ear. âBut whatever you did⊠it worked.âI looked up at him, my eyes searching his for any reassurance. âThis powerâI didnât even know I had it. Itâs like⊠itâs like itâs growing, and I donât understand it.âQuintonâs gaze softened, his hand cuppin