Mag-log inFor a beat, no one spoke. Then, he lowered Kaelani gently until her feet touched the ground, but he didn’t let go—his fingers slipping into hers, holding on like it was the most natural thing in the world. Kaelani’s gaze dropped to their hands. The contact stilled something inside her. No one ha
“You do.” He let his gaze drop—just for a second—to the space between them, the inches that still separated them. Then back to her. “But I meant it when I said I’d never leave you again… that was real.” A brief pause—not for effect, but because he meant it. “Not when it’s hard. Not when it’s me
Kaelani’s smile hit him harder than anything else had. For the first time, it was meant for him. Julian stepped into the room, closing the door quietly behind him and shutting out everything beyond it—the chaos, the noise, all of it. In here— was his peace. His heart. His whole world. He move
The room. The light. The faces. A breath caught in his chest. “Kaelani…?” His focus sharpened. His room. His packhouse. Familiar walls and scent. But something was wrong. His gaze moved quickly—his mother at his side, Jace by the window. No Kaelani. Julian pushed himself upright, pain tear
She didn’t look at him. “Julian Hale… fugitive status removed.” Another keystroke. “Jace Romano… fugitive status removed.” Her fingers paused for a fraction of a second before continuing. “Garrick Blake… charges dropped.” A quiet tap followed. “Release scheduled for… tomorrow morning.” Then—
A brief pause. “Am I wrong?” Councilor Voss didn’t answer. He simply watched her for a moment longer before speaking. “What is it that you want?” Kaelani held the room for a moment. “What I wanted the day I stood before you in the Chamber of Elders,” she said. “What I asked for then.” “To liv
“How could you?” she seethed, her voice cracking. “You lied to me. To our family. You’ve made a mockery of everything we built.” Garrick stepped forward in his glass enclosure, palms pressed to the barrier. “Brielle, no—you don’t understand. I was tricked! It’s not what you think.” His voice pitch
A sharp jab to her ribs snapped Kaelani out of unconsciousness. She gasped, body lurching upright as her eyes flew open—only to be met with a flash of steel and light. A half-dozen spearheads, glowing with crackling energy, hovered inches from her face. She sat up instinctively—and instantly regr
A war cry ripped from her throat—raw, primal, the sound of a woman who would not be taken. And the power beyond the veil answered her call. With a crack that shook the ground, a massive tree branch swung down like a divine hammer, slamming into Elara mid-leap. The impact was brutal. A yelp—sharp
Kaelani’s body thrummed with power. A surge of energy crackled through her like lightning beneath her skin — wild, uncontainable, alive. For the first time in her life, she didn’t feel inferior. She didn’t feel helpless. She felt dangerous. A low, guttural growl rumbled in her chest — dark and







