ログインGrimshaw's POVThe archivist's house was still the way I met it the last time. I guess it made sense since the owner was dead. The two stone wolves still lay in pieces near the shelf, exactly where I'd left them, their bodies cracked open and lifeless.~Good. At least those things won't be a problem this time.~I moved straight to the study. The safe still hung open, empty since I'd already cleared it out, but I hadn't checked the rest of the house properly the first time.Now, Lord Veron wanted the name of the last guardian. One word, that was all we'd needed from the old woman before she died on his office floor, and now I had to find it some other way. I hoped she had the name somewhere around here.I pulled books off shelves one at a time, flipping through pages, searching for anything that looked like a genealogy chart, anything with the erased branch I'd seen before. I didn't see anything like that. I'd taken everything that looked relevant to genealogy to Lord Veron's office.E
Serena's POV"Thanks for everything you bought me," I said to Vessa."It's fine. You didn't even spend a lot. Next time we go out, make sure you pick all the stuff you want."I nodded. "And thank you for letting me know the truth about Josh. You could have kept it to yourself.""You're welcome," Vessa smiled."I need to go train," I told her. "We'll see later."She nodded with a satisfied smile on her face.I wasn't going to train. I just needed a reason to get away from her quickly. I headed to the male hostel.The porter let me through since it was still visiting hours, and I went right to Josh's dorm.He was on his bed, playing a game on his phone. His face brightened when he saw me."Serena, I didn't expect you'll come back with the way you left last time. I've been thinking of how to—""Is it true?" I said, cutting him off.His brows pulled together. "Is what true?""You and Mira." My voice shook, though I tried to keep it steady. "That you told her you love her."All the color d
Vessa's POVKayla came straight to my bed, her eyes bright with the kind of excitement she only got when she'd found something worth bringing to me."You need to hear this," she said, already pulling out her phone."Hear what?""Just listen."She'd been planting recording devices for weeks now, tucked into corners close to Mira's bed and Serena's as well. Most of what she brought me was useless. Gossip. Nothing I could actually use.This seemed to be important.She pressed play, and Josh's voice came through the speaker. It was low, but still audible."Mira, you're the one I actually love."I sat very still."Play it again," I said.She did. I listened to every word twice more. They had a back and forth afterwards, but the highlight of it was Josh confessing he loved Mira. A slow smile spread across my face."Oh, this is perfect," I said."I knew you'd want it," Kayla said, giggling. I reached over and squeezed her hand. "You did so well. You always know exactly what I need."Her w
Mira's POVI couldn't process what he just said.~Seriously, what the fuck?!~The words hung in the room between us, and for a second neither of us moved. Josh looked as stunned as I felt, like the confession had escaped before his brain caught up to his mouth."Are you kidding?" I asked, still shocked. "I'm not, but you know what? Forget I said that." He stood up too fast and he winced from the injury on his thigh. "Maybe I shouldn't have said it, but that's how I feel.""Do you realise we're. . .""We're not related. You're not my sister. Your mom and mine were best friends." I couldn't sit and listen to the nonsense he was spilling. I grabbed my jacket and headed to the door. "Wait!" Josh called. I ignored him and left the dorm, walking fast. I had no idea where I was going. Josh's words drove me crazier the more I thought about it. I grew up in his house. Yes, Aunt Michelle wasn't my biological mom. She took me into her house when my parents died in a fire outbreak. Yet, I'd l
Josh's POVI stepped into the arena with Serena still on my mind.She wasn't among the spectators. I'd scanned the stands twice, looking for her face among the crowd, and found nothing.I saw Mira sitting with her hands folded in her lap, watching me with a worried expression on her face. She'd experienced this before. She knew how hard it was.But what's wrong with Serena?~Focus, Josh. You can think about Serena after.~My partner for this round was a big blond guy from Ironridge named Dorian.I looked at the gate. The wild boar behind it was massive, its hide studded with iron spikes from shoulder to tail, each one glinting under the arena lights.The instructor raised his hand. "Begin!"I shifted first. My spine cracked and stretched, fur rippling across my skin until I stood on four paws. The Bengal tiger form settled over me quickly.Beside me, Dorian shifted into a fox.The gate opened, and the boar charged.It came fast for something that size, its hooves tearing up the dirt f
Serena's POVThe garden was quiet as I walked through it. Most of the other students were in the dining hall, enjoying dinner after the day's gruelling matches. I liked it this way. Fewer eyes on me. Fewer whispers about the girl who forgot everything and everyone. I liked to pretend I wasn't bothered by the whispers, but they bothered me.I walked the stone path slowly, thinking about the matches from earlier. Mira's fight against the venom wolf had been terrifying. The way those fangs glinted every time the beast lunged. I saw raw fear on Mira's face as she tried to avoid elimination. That beast almost tore off her ankle.I understood when Josh and Caden ran to the stage to celebrate with her. I wanted to do the same, but it somehow didn't feel genuine. I was scared for her as a spectator. Not as a friend. Her fight wasn't even the toughest. The fight right after hers was worse. A three-headed cobra with spikes all over its body slithered out the metal gate, coming up against two
Mira's POV"Yes!"The scream came out before I could stop it.It bounced off the lockers and down the hallway.Heads turned in my direction. A few people stared.I pressed my hand over my mouth.Josh's locker was three away from mine. He shut it and came over."What happened?"I thought about the g
Mira's POV I held the metal pole above my head in the bullet train and stared out the window. Buildings blurred past. Josh stood beside me, scrolling through his phone. His school bag dangled on his left shoulder. I wasn't really focused on the buildings. My mind was on the joint trial for The I
Mira's POVI was still enjoying my sleep when something landed on my bed. I jolted awake, heart lurching. My hand already reached for the blade I kept under my pillow. Then I saw what was on my bed. A black attire packed in a cellophane wrap.What's this?I rubbed up eyes and grabbed the package. T
Chapter SixMira's POVThe medic pressed two fingers against my ribs. I winced."Breath out," she said. "Slowly."I exhaled. Pain gripped my side like an electric shock.She nodded. "Not broken. But close."Thank Goodness.She moved to my shoulder next. She rotated it carefully and I bit my lip, tr







