LOGINIvara's POVIsagi leaned closer, his voice dropping into a serious tone like he was starting a lecture as he flipped open the file. “First things first. How good are you with species identification?”“I might know a bit,” I admitted. “I’ve never met so many creatures in one place, let alone hybrids. Silver Moon doesn't have those, but I'm more familiar with wolves and Lycans.”He shrugged. “You’re lucky. At least your file covers the basics.” He flipped a page in the file and began reading in whispers like he was reciting a list. “Typical strengths, weaknesses, combat styles, magical signatures, behavioral patterns, and known methods of deception.” He read a few lines aloud from the page, his tone smooth and confident.I nodded along, staring at the pages, even though I knew I wasn’t going to absorb any of it or even retain it. It sounded like something stressful.Isagi suddenly shut the book and turned to me. “The sad thing here is that you’re not going to be able to read all that ri
PS: This chapter is really longer than normal, so the coins for it might be a little bit higher than usual.*****Ivara's POVI stared down at the thick file in front of me, wondering what exactly I was supposed to do with it. I couldn't seem to figure anything out or even what I was supposed to focus on.How the hell had I even ended up here? Deep down, I knew I wasn’t worthy of sitting here. I didn’t even understand half of what the Delta had said earlier. What was I supposed to do with this file? Read it? Analyze it? I knew absolutely nothing about evaluating warrior recruits because this wasn’t my world.I glanced around the room. Everyone else was focused. Nyx had her eyes glued to her papers, Zane watched the arena intently with a thoughtful expression, and the Delta was scribbling notes.The only one not paying attention to the evaluation was Isagi. He was staring straight at me. Not blinking or looking away even when our eyes met. I flashed him an awkward smile and quickly loo
Xlynor's POVThe Delta stepped forward, clearing his throat. “Alpha, the trainers are ready for the evaluation. We’ve also prepared detailed profiles for each recruit as you requested, and we included their physical assessments, combat trials, and loyalty metrics.”I nodded once and moved toward the seats overlooking the arena. I needed to sit down before I did something regrettable. But of course, Isagi couldn’t let the moment pass without being a nuisance.Ivara started toward an empty chair, but Isagi smoothly pulled out the one right beside his own, flashing her that infuriating grin. “Here, Ivy. A much better view.” He gestured towards it with an open hand.At this point, he was yanking on the very last thread of my sanity. His presence alone grated on me. Add the blatant passes at Ivara, and I was one breath away from violence.Ivara looked at it, then at him before giving a polite nod and moving toward his offered seat. She was actually walking towards it!I hissed under my bre
Xlynor's POVI scowled. “What are you doing here?”“Easy tiger. I'm extending my stay, much longer than I'd originally planned.” He grinned and finally dropped his feet off the desk, sitting up before rising to his feet. He pocketed the phone, and then his attention moved past me, glinting as though he'd just found the most interesting thing in the room.I glanced behind me only to see that his eyes and attention were locked on Ivara.“I guess my days of exploration are over.” His eyes glittered with excitement as they raked over Ivara.His whole energy had shifted the moment he saw her. He hadn't looked at me once since getting to his feet. I finally realized he hadn't been lying when he said she affected him too. I could literally feel the current of excitement in him, and it didn't sit well with me.Irritation flared hot in my chest. I stepped in front of her, blocking his view. “Get out. We’re about to start.”His eyes dimmed immediately. He sidestepped me smoothly and pushed past
Xlynor's POVToday was the day the priestess would arrive.That fact bothered me more than everything else— the barracks visit, the recruit evaluation, the warriors' training, and every other damned thing I had to do.She had agreed to come right after the Lunari festival but then a part of me didn't want her to come anymore… perhaps I was uncertain and wasn't ready yet to hear whatever she had to say. Or maybe I had a certain fear of what she would confirm. But at the same time, it was already too late to back out.Anyway, I couldn’t risk leaving Ivara at the castle unsupervised. She was too nosy, too observant, and overall too curious.One glimpse of a strange woman in the castle would have her digging for answers she was never meant to uncover. She still didn’t know she was likely more than human, and I wasn’t ready to explain how she affected me and my demons in ways that defied logic or tell her outright that she was anything but human.Nope. I’d even lied to Zane, claiming I need
Ivara's POVI followed Xlynor out of the castle without a word. He didn't spare me a single glance, his posture rigid and commanding as ever.The moment we stepped outside, the guards stationed around the compound bowed deeply in unison. A clean, synchronized dip that rippled outward as he moved through them.“Alpha,” they greeted.Xlynor acknowledged it with a curt nod, already heading for the parking garage. A few of them fell into step behind us. None of them said a word.I trailed a little behind, my mind still spinning. Where exactly were we going? What was this about?A guard opened the car door on my side, and I got in while Xlynor went around to the other side and slid in beside me.I opened my mouth to ask where we were going, but one glance at him, combined with the unnerving silence between us made the words stick in my throat.Was he still angry? Or was this just his usual icy attitude? I decided to look out the window instead.Through the glass, I watched two more cars fi
Xlynor's POVI looked down at the shallow cut across my chest which already had blood seeping out of it and had slowly soaked my shirt, then up at her.It wasn't the cut that angered me but the insult that came with it. Elodie's twin took a fighting stance, causing my brows to knot. Did she expect
Ivara's POVAs soon as Xlynor’s fingers brushed my skin while cleaning the wound, a deep shiver ran through me. He was freezing. Not just cool—bone-chillingly cold, like touching steel in the middle of winter.I looked up at him, frowning. “Why are you so cold?”“Absence of my demons for a long tim
Ivara's POV.I'd barely tilted my head towards the doorway when the kitchen door swung open, and another Xlynor stepped in.Every thought in my head evaporated. I forgot the deal, I forgot the bracelets, I forgot the entire decision I had just made to act normal and keep it together.“AAhhh!” I lau
Note: This chapter would be written in a third-person POV/Author's POV, as Ivara is already unconscious, and I can't write from all three demons POV in one chapter.Author's POV.Barkow walked back to where Ivara lay and bent over, studying her with the expression of someone encountering a mildly b







