The lunch at Nora's was filled with laughter and warmth, just like alwaysAriana almost forgot that the burden of weight and uncertainty lay heavy on her mind. Delicious stew, freshly cooked food, wafted the savory smell around her, and she shared laughs with Nora's family while soaking in the simplicity of a day with friends.As evening drew in, Ariana stood up and thanked them all for the lovely meal. "zillions of thanks, Mrs. Wills. Truly, without your cooking, I wouldn't know what to do."Mrs. Wills gave her a soft smile and waved her hand. "Rubbish, dear. You’re like part of the family. You must come around more often.”Ariana smiled gently at the gentlewoman, Mrs Wills had come home just an hour ago, and met for lunch. Just as Ariana turned to leave, Ben appeared from the living room and glanced out the window at the sun dipping low in the sky. "It's getting late," he said, his gaze lingering on her. "Let me walk you home, Ariana."Ariana felt a flicker of surprise. "Oh, that's
Soft morning light struggled through the curtains, casting a warm gloss in Ariana's room, but did little for the dark circles beneath her eyes. She had hardly slept, her mind racing through everything that had happened. The memory of Yulian's threat, of the danger lurking just beyond the edge of her grandmother's home, and... the kiss with Liam. While everything was knotted into one endless emotional loop in her mind, emotions she would never be able to get rid of.Ariana let out a sigh and pushed herself off the bed toward the bathroom, hoping the quick shower might at least wash off the exhaustion. But then again, looking in the mirror, she winced, the trace of bags under her eyes spoke their own story, one she'd be better off not sharing with her grandmother.She entered the kitchen where her grandmother was already scurrying around in it, the singing of her tune wafting across. Ariana hastened to her grandmother's side and picked up a dishtowel as she saw her grandmother catch sig
The fighting was intense yet restrained, an instant play of power and prowess between siblings. Yulian's actions could be razor-sharp and calculated as his mind; with each sweep, it was a reminder of the brute force he carried. For all his malignant intentions, he used that force with lethal elegance, his blows almost invisible in the throb of the Moonstone's dim light. It was never an intention to defeat, but to threaten and prove just how close he could get to crushing them.Liam met every blow with a focus unyielding, determined. His strength rivalled Yulian's, yet Ariana could feel the tension between them, silent in its understanding that tonight wasn't going to be the night of the final battle. Not yet. Yulian wasn't here to end it. He was here to make a point.Yulian's voice cut through the air amidst the rapid exchange of movements, his tone ice-cold, devoid of emotion. "You can't always protect her, Liam. The Moonstone, her blood…it all belongs to me."Ariana felt a cold shiv
The tension did not dissipate as they trekked through the forest. With each step, Ariana felt the weight heavier, like the weight of all these secrets she now carried was weighing her down. Each crunch of leaves under her foot sounded like a loud megaphone because the forest was near silent following their near escape. Every rustle of the wind through the trees had her starting, half expecting another attack.Liam did not quicken his pace, but his senses seemed on high, though without a sign of fear in him. Ariana was taken aback by how serene he was, how calm he could be while danger was just inches away from them. It was a stark reminder to her that this was his world and violence and power plays, curses and betrayal. She was just an outsider being pulled deeper into it, randomly."We're close," Liam said, long silent minutes later, his voice low and confident.Ariana suddenly felt a mix of relief and fear. The sooner they found Yulian, the better, since that would mean an end to th
The woods seemed to heave with a life of their own as Ariana followed Liam down the twisting paths. So much of the sunlight was absorbed by the heavy canopy above them that nothing reached the forest floor. Twigs snapped beneath their feet and the wind whispered through the trees, threatening her to turn back. With each step further into the forest, the weight of what was to come pressed heavier upon her chest. She didn't know if it was due to the curse or the thought of rising danger, but the air grew thick.Liam strode with a purpose, his senses seemingly on high alert, as if he were able to hear or scent things so far beyond her comprehension. Her senses had heightened, but she was nowhere near his level of being aware of his surroundings. She could feel a tension building in her body, something coiled and poised to break free."How much farther?" Ariana asked then, her voice low, as if she was afraid to break the spell of the natural world around them."Not far," Liam said shortl
Ariana hadn't slept much that night. The journal lay open on her bed, its brittle pages softly lit by the warm glow of her bedside lamp. She had read it a million times, her fingers tracing over her mother's handwriting, but each pass through its pages brought more questions. The Moonstone. The curse. The wolves. And now, Liam. Everything was leaning against her chest the moment she shut her eyes. Her world was upside down, and she just didn't know how to steady herself. The thing that really terrified her was that her whole life could be built upon secrets-which were now unraveling at a speed faster than she could master. And when the sun finally showed a little through the curtain, Ariana knew it was time to face it all head-on. Liam had promised her answers, and if she was going to make it through this, well, she needed to understand exactly what kind of danger she was in. Ariana had thrown on a pair of jeans and a hoodie, padding downstairs. Her grandmother still lay asleep