LOGINThe renegade's name was Ethan.
He was a kid. “I’m too young to be an extremist,” Lost in their childhood. Not able to see the tragedies that molded their peers. He’d been recruited three years ago, promised power and purpose, and regretted the decision every day since.Valentina could read his fear. Oh the shame. The clinging to the dim hope that he could still be saved."Tell me everything," she commanded. “I’ll see to it that you survive.”Ethan said.Six months had passed since THE war with THE Council.Everything had been rebuilt. Alliances were stronger and THE world had changed.But Silas knew something would go wrong at some point.Standing on his balcony, he watched THE sunrise over THE Silvermoon territory. Everything was green, warm and peaceful.But it wouldn't last.Nothing ever did."Aria?"Silas turned to see his daughter standing in THE doorway. Her silver eyes shining."Rise and shine.""I couldn't sleep." She made her way to stand beside him. "What are you thinking about?""The future.""Sounds ominous."Silas chuckled. "Maybe."They stood in silence as THE birds chattered above."The NEW Council is meeting today," Aria asked."I wasn't invited."Aria frowned. "That's ridiculous. You're THE one who reformed THE Council. You should be there."
Babies are born in the dark.His mother was the daughter of Sofia, who died in childbirth. His father was a nomadic outlaw with no future, and before the midwife could call for help he was dead. The little one had been abandoned in a cold mountain lodge, wrapped in a blanket smelling of snow and blood.But he didn't seem to be affected.He said nothing.The old midwife, who had witnessed hundreds of births, experienced a new feeling as she met his dark eyes.Fear.She left him at a pack's door in the northern territories. Just one knock. Ran.The group gave him a hug. His name was Nikolai. They raised him like one of their own.They still didn't know who he was.After sixteen years, Nikolai was on the edge of the pack's territory.He was a tall fellow. Weight loss. Very attractive in a cold, icy way. His dark eyes reflected the moonshine. He gave a thin smile.He had been waiting for t
The name Mikhail Volkov did not occur to Silas.That was the first problem.But now Silas was starting to see a pattern.Dante, referring to himself as "cousin," laid out another file on the table in the war room. Vladimir's cousin. The one that everyone thought was dead.Silas had stopped gazing at the picture. He looked at the wall silently."I have to know, how many more are there?"Dante said, "We aren't sure," his voice revealing how tired he was. "There is a long line of Volkovs, and each time we get rid of one, a new one appears. They seem to live forever."They can't live forever; they're masters of concealment."So how are we going to find them and stop this?Silas was silent for a long time. After that, he spoke more slowly."Because we don't."Dante faltered for a moment. "What do you mean?""They get away from us. We don't go after them. We no longer play their gam
Silas didn’t give a damn for Sofia Volkov.That had a problem at first.“A daughter,” Dante whispered, putting a new file on the table in the office. Alexei's Children. The one that everyone thought was dead.Silas stared at the photograph. It was recently taken by an intelligence operative in the western lands. The face was stamped with youth. Real nice. But their eyes were old eyes. Sickening black. Solid frozen."Are there any more of them—certainly more?"“Our knowledge is limited,” Dante said gravely. The Volkovs are a long lineage. Every time we eliminate one, another pops up. Their breeding appears to be going on surreptitiously.Then we have to stop this. Permanently.“We’ve been trying all these years.So we redouble our efforts. Silas slammed his fist into the table. We find each and every Volkov. Its last follower. All the backers. And we murder them.Valentina went in front. Her eyes were ha
Alexei Volkov was just a name to Silas.That had a problem at first.Dante blurted out, "Vladimir's brother," while spreading a new file over the convention table. "The person everyone thought was dead. He has been hiding in the north for years. building an army. Looking forward.Silas stared at the image. Even though the object was ancient, the face was instantly recognizable. The same dark eyes. The same cold smile."Are there any more of them—certainly more?""Our knowledge is limited," Dante remarked somberly. There is a long line of Volkovs. Every time we get rid of one, a new one appears. It looks like a hydra."Then it's time to remove the head. Permanently."“We’ve been trying all these years.So we redouble our efforts. Silas slammed his fist into the table. We find each and every Volkov. Its last follower. All the backers. And we murder them.Valentina went in front. Her eyes were hard and sil
Silas didn't give a shit for Katarina Volkov.There was a problem with that at first."A sister," Dante said as he placed a new file on the other side of the conference table. "Nikola's older sister. The one that everyone thought was dead.Silas stared at the photograph. It was taken recently by the spy from the eastern territories. The face was stamped with youth. Real nice. But their eyes were old eyes. Sickening black. Solid frozen."Are there any more of them—certainly more?""Our knowledge is limited," Dante remarked somberly. There is a long line of Volkovs. The four of them: Anya, Dimitri, Irina, and Vladimir. Hello, Nikolai. Katarina comes next. As soon as we get rid of one, another appears.Then we have to stop this. Permanently."We've been trying for all these years."So we redouble our efforts. Silas slammed his fist into the table. We find each and every Volkov. Its last follower. All the backers. A







