LOGINWhen she does, she remains at arms length. Eyes fixed on me like I’m the most precious thing in this room. I see the pain she is trying to hide. It’s the same as the one that clogs my throat. I force through it and speak. “Why did you abandon me?” My voice is small and shaky, like it was every night I prayed. “I-” She pauses then goes on one knee in front of me bringing us near in height. “I didn’t know.” “Lies…” I feel my rage clawing its way up from the depths of my heart. “You were supposed to die there. All the children that were taken from the village were supposed to die in that cave.” Her voice is soft. Her eyes plead with me. “So why didn’t I?” I take a step forward even though I want to be far away from her right now. “I called out to you! Every night! Why?” I hear my heart break. “Why didn’t you answer me after I survived?” “After that blood entered your system… our connection was severed.” She explains, “To me, that means you were killed. I have a system in place that
ELIO’S POV Rain runs down my face as I stare across the forest. After a flash of lightning and a crack of thunder, the rain returned abruptly, like something had been delaying it. I force myself to stay standing even though every part of my body wants to move, to jump in… to help. But I know I can’t. I will be useless in a battle of this caliber. This fight isn’t mine. Across the torn ground, beside the broken tree I assume Orion crashed through earlier, the two of them face each other. Orion hovers above the trees, wings spread wide against the rain. Even after everything I’ve seen tonight, the sight of him still makes my chest tighten. He barely looks human anymore. His body is tall. Too tall, lean and unnatural, like something stretched beyond the limits of a normal man. His feet and forearms are covered in fur, along with his entire back. Long black hair whips around his face in the wind as those golden eyes glow through the rain like molten metal. I see them flash red w
‘Ezra? What do you mean by that?’ The world around me slows to a stop when Ezra materializes in front of me. This time he takes the very first form I saw him in. The shadows around me move, materializing the body of a man made completely out of shadows. This time his body looks identical to a galaxy instead of plain darkness. His eyes are flashes of white against the darkness which is his body. He has no pupils, just a nose and a mouth. With a move of his hand, I’m erected into an upright position. “What’s going on?” I spot Orion standing still. The rain droplets are no different than the tree caught mid motion. “Didn’t you say you lost strength… how?” “The strength I’ve been conserving was all for this moment.” I look away from him. “I couldn’t cure Orion…” I stay off. “My healing was never going to do so, was it?” He shakes his head. “No.” His eyes remain on me, his expression softens. “The divine power only amplified the healing gift Ezekiel told you about.” “I see.” I b
ELDORA’S POV “Tell me…” Orion seethes. “What did that bitch say to you?” “She…” I struggle to speak and breathe through my mouth. “Said…” I cough blood as I try to pull myself up but it’s useless so I put a hand on his knee to get closer to him as I mutter something. “She. Said. What?!” His rage is palpable. I chuckle. “Got you.” His brows knit by a fraction. “HEAL!” I pour out all the strength I’ve been conserving for this moment into where my hand is on his knee. I needed to make contact and I have. I close my eyes, struggling to concentrate so I don’t pass out from my aching body. As soon as the last drop of divine power leaves my system I feel Orion begin to shake under my hand. Is it working? Did I do it? I cough blood again. I can barely keep my eyes open- A chuckle? I whip my neck up so fast that my vision blurs. Orion has an extremely amused expression on his face. A direct opposite of my pure look of horror. “Oh s-sorry.” He stifles his laughter.
The first rogue pulls itself over the railing behind me. Becca lifts her hand lazily. Becca’s fingers flick. It’s such a small movement that I almost miss it. Then all the rogues move. Not like wolves charging across a field. Not even like hunters closing in. These ones surge toward the walls, claws digging into brick and wood as if gravity suddenly stopped meaning anything. Their bodies twist and climb, scaling the walls like insects, yellow eyes locked on me. A curse slips under my breath. I step back just as the first rogue launches from the wall. It hits the floor where I stood a heartbeat ago, claws ripping into the wood with a shriek. I spin and drive my heel into its jaw. Bone cracks. The wolf skids across the corridor, slamming into the railing. Another drops from above. I duck. Claws slice through the air where my throat had been. I grab the wolf by the scruff mid-lunge and hurl it into the wall hard enough to leave a dent in the plaster. But they keep coming. Mo
Roman could see everything. The sweat soaking Frederick’s collar. The rapid rise and fall of his chest. The way his hand moved into his back pocket. Holding something. A pill. Frederick’s eyes darted over Roman’s bruised body, clearly measuring the damage, calculating odds that he knew weren’t in his favor. Still… he forced himself to speak. “Vayne…” Frederick said, raising one hand slightly in a placating gesture. “We don’t have any problem with you.” Roman said nothing. His expression didn’t change. Frederick swallowed. “Just… let us pass.” Behind him, the other three alphas shifted uneasily. Their eyes flickered between Roman and the dark forest behind them like trapped animals looking for escape routes. Roman’s gaze drifted down briefly. Frederick’s hand was still in his pocket. Still gripping the pill. Roman looked back up. “But I have a bone to pick with you,” he said calmly. Frederick’s jaw tightened. A flicker of panic flashed across his face before he quic
“I contacted the school, they’re probably the ones who called your Aunt.” I confess to Eldon once he exits the interrogation room. “It’s fine, thanks.” He looks so… tired. His hair is sticking up in different angles, there are smudges of mud on his forehead and some on his hair, dulling the silver
On the twentieth step, the clouds clear up, revealing a gigantic city before me. Amnesi is waiting for me by its intricately designed gates. ‘Is that… gold?’ The sun reflects on the swirling bars depicting a golden dragon gliding through clouds. It’s a beautiful work of art that I want to spend al
I’m taken aback. Ezra hadn’t even done anything. “Can you read my mind?” “No, but I can feel the information your helper is trying to search for.” The corners of her eyes crease when she smiles. The seer doesn’t seem to be older than 25 much like Amnesi. I slow down my thinking. “You know my nam
When we get into town, we park in an underground garage. As we walk through the streets, I notice we’re still attracting attention. A lot of it. High school girls are giggling here and there. Boyfriends with their gawking girlfriends are sizing us up. Older women are covertly stealing glances, talk







