LOGINSORENI came out of sleep with a sudden jolt, my heart thudding painfully against my chest. For a moment, I struggled to catch my breath, my fingers gripping the armrests of the chair as I tried to steady myself.My gaze immediately shifted to Eira.She was still asleep on the hospital bed, looking surprisingly peaceful despite everything that had happened. I watched her for a while, almost wishing I could trade places with her and enjoy that kind of rest. Then again, her body had been through so much that she probably needed every bit of sleep she could get.Unlike her, I felt completely drained. My muscles were stiff, and the tension running through my body made it seem as though I’d spent the entire night fighting.I rubbed my face, hoping to shake off the disturbing images still lingering in my head.But they wouldn’t go away.That endless darkness. The unbearable cold. The strange feeling that something was watching me from somewhere within the shadows.It was unlike any nightmar
SORENI came out of sleep with a sudden jolt, my heart thudding painfully against my chest. For a moment, I struggled to catch my breath, my fingers gripping the armrests of the chair as I tried to steady myself.My gaze immediately shifted to Eira.She was still asleep on the hospital bed, looking surprisingly peaceful despite everything that had happened. I watched her for a while, almost wishing I could trade places with her and enjoy that kind of rest. Then again, her body had been through so much that she probably needed every bit of sleep she could get.Unlike her, I felt completely drained. My muscles were stiff, and the tension running through my body made it seem as though I’d spent the entire night fighting.I rubbed my face, hoping to shake off the disturbing images still lingering in my head.But they wouldn’t go away.That endless darkness. The unbearable cold. The strange feeling that something was watching me from somewhere within the shadows.It was unlike any nightmar
SORENAn intense chill washed over me, and I immediately became aware of how cold my surroundings were. It felt as though the freezing temperature had found its way beneath my skin, settling deep in my bones. Each time I exhaled, a faint cloud of mist escaped my lips before disappearing into the air.I could barely see anything around me.Darkness stretched endlessly in every direction, so dense that even when I raised my hands, I couldn’t make out their outlines. I moved cautiously, my boots scraping against what felt like solid ground. The tiny sound seemed strangely loud against the unnatural silence.Where the hell was I?I turned slowly, examining my surroundings, but there was nothing to help me figure out where I’d ended up. The place seemed endless, an enormous stretch of nothingness without a beginning or an end.Yet something told me I wasn’t alone.There was something hiding in the darkness.“Hello?” I called, my voice coming out weaker than I’d intended.No response.My wo
ELARA’S POVThe moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale light over the clearing. I stood beneath the trees, shivering as the cold night air slipped through my thin jacket.But the cold wasn’t the reason my hands were shaking.It was everything that had happened earlier. More specifically, it was Eira.No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get her face out of my head. I kept remembering the way she’d looked at me while Kael carried her to the hospital. That little smirk on her face wouldn’t leave me alone.It wasn’t an ordinary smile. It felt like she was mocking me, reminding me that she’d survived and that my plan had failed.The rogue was supposed to finish her off. At the very least, I expected the attack to force her powers out where everyone could see them. But none of that happened. She was still alive, and somehow, she’d even managed to look at me as though she knew exactly what I’d done.I hugged myself, trying to shake off the uncomfortable feeling.I couldn’t stop thinkin
Eira’s POVThe crowd slowly began to disperse after Thorne’s warning, but I could still feel people staring at me as they walked away.Kael kept an arm around me, helping me stay on my feet. I could barely stand. My legs felt weak, and every part of my body hurt.“I swear, I won’t rest until I find out who did this,” Thorne said angrily. “Whoever is responsible will pay for it.”I looked up at him. He was pacing, his fists clenched as he struggled to control his anger. When he noticed me looking, he stopped.For a moment, his expression softened as he looked at my injuries. I couldn’t tell if it was concern or guilt, but there was something different in his eyes.Then, just as quickly, he looked away.“Eira…”He seemed unsure of what to say. After a brief pause, he turned to Kael.“Take her to the hospital. Make sure she gets proper treatment.”Kael tightened his arm around me. “She’s hurt. We should get her there as soon as possible.”Thorne nodded.“And make sure nobody gets close t
EIRAJust when I thought the fire inside me was about to consume everything, another sound reached my ears.A low, threatening growl.The rogue wolf’s snarl echoed through the cage, so sharp and terrifying that it briefly drowned out the frantic pounding of my heart. My entire body trembled as the fiery energy within me fought to break free. Every instinct urged me to unleash it, to turn the creature into ashes and save myself.But I couldn’t.Not again.The wolf sprang toward me, and I braced for the impact.Then, suddenly, its body jerked violently.Its growl turned into a horrible, choking sound as blood spilled from its mouth and splattered across the floor. It staggered, swayed from side to side, and finally crashed to the ground.An arrow was buried deep in its back.I stared at the motionless creature, watching the light slowly disappear from its eyes. My heart was still racing when a familiar voice shattered the silence.“Eira!”I lifted my head, barely able to process what wa







