Darkened Bonds

“I will never fall.”She mumbled the words over and over, dragging herself forward, her long mantle brushing the ground behind her. It would not end like this, not as long as she could breathe.Behind her, flames devoured the castle; ash landed on her skin and clung to her sweat-soaked face.Her clan’s bodies lay scattered on the ground. Beasts slaughtered the survivors mercilessly, filling the air with blood.The most powerful witch—that was what her clan had always called her. She had believed it too.What went wrong?The tall figure before her remained still, watching her with a glinting red gaze.All she needed to do was kill that monster.The queen of witches dragged herself back into stance and raised her staff toward him, her body resisting every movement.Summoning the last bit of her magic, blackened smoke spiraled above her staff toward the shining crystal, slowly turning its glow into a deep red.He stood there, watching as if the woman was already finished.Then, in an ins

Three years. It had been three years since the fall of the Queen of Witches. That was what Zaphyra told her. How ridiculous. To her, it had only happened a moment ago. Everything was too vivid in her mind. She stepped out of the bathtub, splashing water onto the floor. Putting on a robe, she moved back to the bedroom. Opening the closet, there were a few lifeless dresses. She paused, just staring. To think she didn’t even have anything to wear. She picked the black one. "Nalath hated black." "I'm Radella, not some Nalath, keep that in mind." At that moment, the door creaked open. Two girls stepped inside. One of those two girls carried a huge tray filled with heels, jewels, and garments. The other was empty-handed, her lips curled into a smirk. The girl with the tray set it on the table, lit the lamps, and shut the windows. She had a slim body, almost frail, and her short hair was styled in twin ponytails. The one with chin-length hair, who neither carried anything nor did a

He walked down the stairs leading to the dungeon. His fur coat swept the floor, his long fiery red hair tied in a plait, and the muscles of his striking face were stern as he focused on his way forward.At every corner, a guard stood watch, and they bowed with their hands on their chests whenever he passed near them.Not paying them any attention, he stopped at the end of the dungeon in front of one of the cells. He glanced at a guard, and immediately the guard pulled out a key and unlocked the gate.Inside was an old man bound with chains on his arms and legs, sitting still. The young man stepped toward him.“Do you know what the Alpha would say if he knew you found me?” the old man asked as he kept his eyes closed.He didn't reply and only stared.The old man opened his eyes and looked up at him. “Tell me, why did you trouble yourself to visit a dying man?”“How can I lift my curse?” he asked evenly.The old man chuckled, then it turned into laughter. He laughed with all his lungs.

For the next two days, she endured life in a cell. Doing nothing, just sitting on the floor as she leaned against the wall. Her hair was messy, and so was her dress. In the past, it used to be her watching prisoners from outside their cells, but whoever would have thought... No. This wasn't the time to reflect on that. The Eons were here. She had better think of how to get rid of them despite her powerless state. By the fourth day, she couldn't even lift her hand and lay sprawled across the floor. Her hair was even more disheveled. The pain in her body had faded a little, but not enough to erase the anger building inside her toward the pack. They had left her to such a shameful death. Hunger. How long were they going to keep her here? "Radella," Zaphyra called weakly. "You want us to die." Radella only stared at the ceiling. Her lips were completely dry, and now even her head pounded. "Nalath waited and endured," Zaphyra continued. Radella listened without responding.

Radella stopped in front of the two. Anais appeared composed, just as she had seen her at the banquet.Khalien studied Radella's body, up and down. Since the event at the banquet, eyes had been on him, and he hadn't dared visit her in the dungeon.Not only that, he had to travel away from the pack. He didn't know how she was doing after his father's strike on her.It seemed she was fine now. Then Khalien mind-linked Radella. "We need to talk, Nala."Radella gave him a brief glance as she had no idea how that mind link worked.“Hello, Nalath,” Anais greeted her politely and held out a hand. "You remember me?"Radella accepted Anais's hand. “I know you. Beta’s son's fiancée.”Khalien narrowed his eyes at her. She didn't have to choose those words.“Why are you here?” Khalien asked.Radella turned to him. “Can you lend me some money?”What? It wasn't about him and Anais. Was she fine seeing him as that?“What do you need it for?”“Don't be like that,” Anais said gently. Then she took out