LOGINZANE I rush to my room, with Selene hot on my heels, and I do not even care. What does it matter if she invades my space right now? I know what the weapon is. I mindlink Rion, and he responds instantly to let me know he’s on his way. True to form, I am still entering the code of the safe when he comes running in. “Have you got it yet?” His voice is urgent, tight with anticipation. I shake my head. The safe clicks open and relief surges through me as I grab the relic tucked safely inside. My mind spins, wondering how on earth a journal turns into a weapon, but I suppose I’ll see soon enough. I slip the relic around my neck. The cold chain sits against my skin. The moment it touches me, the humming in the back of my head bursts into a screaming roar. My skull pounds, muscles coil like iron springs, and my heart hammers against my ribs. That is alright, it will calm. Everything will calm. I walk to my nightstand and take the journal from the drawer, praying that its still dis
ZANE I used to believe myself unshakable. A month ago, I would have sworn that nothing—not lust, not love, not a Weston princess with a wicked smile—could weaken me. And now look at me. She nearly stabbed me. And all I can think about is the sound she made when the blade went through her hand. I let my guard down around someone I knew had been compromised, simply because I was too blinded by hope to see the truth. I have never been this reckless, and now she must bear the consequences of my mistake. Bloody hell. I stalk down the hall, Rion’s footsteps a steady shadow behind me until he breaks the silence through the mind link. ‘If anyone can handle this, it’s the Banshee.’ His voice echoes in my mind. ‘She knows magic. And she knows Lyra.’ It sounds like he’s trying to convince himself as much as he is me. I pinch the bridge of my nose and continue down the hall to my office. Rion is right — Selene is the best chance we have. Yet, for a fleeting second, my mind
LYRAI can't stop.My entire body shudders as I hold him. His heartbeat pounds steadily beneath my cheek, warm and reassuring, while my own feels like it's trying to claw its way out of my chest. Every instinct I possess is screaming at me to let him go—to run.The athame feels impossibly heavy in my hand, hovering behind Zane's back.‘Do it.’ Aurora's voice slices through my skull.No, no—I squeeze my eyes shut so hard that the tears spill onto Zane's shirt. He rubs slow circles over my back as though he can soothe whatever is tormenting me.“I’ve got you, baby. You’re safe.” He murmurs against my hair.Goddess. Don't fucking say that.My fingers tighten around the bone handle until my knuckles ache.The blade begins to descend behind Zane’s back.No—It takes everything in me—every last bit of my willpower—to shove my left hand between him and the blade.The steel meets flesh.The athame drives straight through my hand.Agony explodes through my entire arm. A scream tears itself
LYRA I turn to my side, facing Zane, as my arm slips beneath my pillow. My fingertips brush against the bone handle of the athame below my head. Aurora’s voice is loud once again, reminding me of what needs to be done. Louder and crueler than before, laughing as though she already knows I've lost. I grip the handle tightly, but freeze when Zane slowly reaches up. His bright eyes lock onto mine, while his skin still has that faint glow of his Alpha power. A large hand lands on my cheek, his thumb rubbing soft circles against my skin, and just like before, the urge to use the weapon simply… vanishes. I close my eyes and try to relax into his gentle touch. “Ly, what did she do to you?” I stiffen, the words on the tip of my tongue, but my voice won’t cooperate. Zane sighs and places another kiss on my forehead. When he pulls away, he looks like he wants to insist. His mouth opens, but ultimately he just nods. “When you’re ready,” he gives me an encouraging smile, while
LYRA Finally, I get some peace when I slip into the bathroom, leaving an overprotective Ellie hovering in my room. I click the lock into place, before sagging against the door, sliding down until I’m nothing more than a trembling bundle on the cold tile. Fuck me. How did I get here? How did I go from a terrifying lycan to this? A sad, shackled little pup, unable to even feel the presence that once burned in my mind. At this point, I’d rather lose control again. I’d welcome the beast. Anything would be better than this. This crazy mix of my erratic thoughts and Aurora’s fucking voice in my mind. Even over a distance, the bitch is commanding me. She’s constantly whispering what to do, filling my head with images and instructions. She told me that she would give me what I need. Which she has. And goddess, I’ve already started planning how to obey her. It’s been hours since Zane left, but he needs to come back. Aurora needs him to come find me, and when he returns, I’ll do it. I
ZANE Rion’s eyes widen, flicking between Selene and me. “He could have an entire army by now,” he says slowly, his voice heavy with realization. “Do you think he could have infiltrated witch covens?” I ask Selene. “I doubt it,” she seems thoughtful. “He did the last time, didn’t he?” Rion watches Selene’s reaction closely. “Yes,” she confirms, “but that was centuries ago. The coven I lived with before taught us that witches have evolved. They’ve learned from generations of mistakes. These days, it's much harder to deceive a witch with magic.” “What if he got a witch alone?” Rion asks. She shakes her head, before continuing. “Even if Khaíros waited around their borders, witches never leave their covens alone anymore, they are always in groups. And if one doesn’t sense the trickery, the others will.” Despite her reassurances, we do not relax. “Lone witches?” I question her, thinking of all the sorceresses who are known for living in caves, practicing nature-base
LYRA“The final cadet starting warrior training — Maria López.”My stomach sinks. Tabitha didn’t make it.I swallow hard, forcing myself to keep my face neutral as the weight of it settles in. Tabitha fought like hell. She deserved better. And yet, Maria is staying in her place. Bittersweet doesn
LYRAThe next door opens, and I almost groan in relief. Thank fuck the stupid rock maze gave my arms just enough time to stop screaming. They still ache, but it’s the manageable kind now. The kind I can work through. The next room is long and wide, stark and industrial. Targets line the far wall
LYRAOf course this is what the next obstacle is would be. My arms are already aching in protest, but of course this is what we get.Right in front of us, there are two lanes, side by side, suspended over a large open space.Fucking monkey bars.The bars stretch for at least fifteen meters and they
LYRAHis deep commanding voice has a shiver running down my spine.I get on my hands and knees on the couch, and a low hum of approval vibrates in his chest from where he is standing behind me. That sound alone has my thighs clenching so hard I almost gasp. His approval should not turn me on so mu







