Mira PovThe moment the gate slammed shut behind me, a deep sense of dread settled in my stomach. I turned just in time to see the monstrous boar step into the training yard, its thick muscles rippling under its coarse fur. Its beady black eyes locked onto me, nostrils flaring as it let out a deep, guttural snort. My heart stopped.I whipped around to face Rowan, who stood lazily by the sidelines with his arms crossed over his chest, watching me like this was some kind of twisted entertainment.“Rowan!” I shrieked, stumbling backward as the boar took a slow step forward, sizing me up. “What the hell is this?!”His response was maddeningly calm. “Your training.”“Training?!” My voice cracked as I took another step back, but the beast mirrored my movement, its sharp tusks glinting under the sunlight. “This isn’t training! This is murder! What sort of rubbish is this.” I was almost going crazy as I was scared it was going to come for me.“If you think that,” Rowan said, complete
Mira POV I lingered by the doorway, my breath shallow as I watched the scene unfold before me. The peasant man knelt in the center of the council chamber, his frail hands clutching his cap to his chest, his shoulders trembling. His face was pale with desperation, his voice hoarse as he pleaded. “Please, my lords,” he begged, his words barely above a whisper. “My family is starving. If I could just have a small loan from the crown—just enough to buy food from the next village during the upcoming market day. I swear on my life, I will pay it back in full.” The room fell into a heavy silence. I swallowed hard, gripping the edge of the stone wall as I peered inside. The councilmen exchanged glances, some sneering, others indifferent. They were all dressed in their expensive cloaks, their fingers adorned with gold rings, while the man kneeling before them looked like he hadn’t had a proper meal in weeks. “Do we look like a loan house to you?” one of the older councilmen s
Mira POV I had just finished dressing and was heading toward the meeting hall when Adela, my ever-attentive aide, appeared at my side, her expression unreadable. She fell into step beside me, her hands clasped in front of her as she matched my stride. “Luna,” she said in a quiet tone, “there are people waiting to see you. They say they are from the clan’s shrine and claim to be the Voice of the Moon Goddess.” I slowed my steps and turned to her, my brows furrowing. “The Voice of the Moon Goddess?” The title itself was unfamiliar to me, but I had learned enough in my time here to know that the Moon Goddess was sacred to the people of Blackwood. Even in Kilmore, there were those who believed in her divine will, though I had never paid much attention to the spiritual side of things. Adela nodded. “Yes, My Lady. There are six of them, and they insist that they have an important message for you.” My curiosity deepened. “Did they say what the message is?” “No, My Lady,”
Lucian’s POV The moment Mira stormed off, anger twisted inside me like a tightly coiled wire ready to snap. My jaw clenched as I turned to Kai, my fists tightening at my sides.“You shouldn’t have done that,” I growled.Kai’s eyes flicked toward me, golden and unwavering. “I did what was necessary.” His voice was steady, as if he hadn’t just pushed our mate away.“You had no right,” I snapped, stepping forward, my muscles tight with frustration. “Mira deserves to make her own choices.”Kai scoffed, rolling his shoulders. “She doesn’t need to hear their nonsense. You remember what happened the last time they gave a prophecy—it nearly led to war. I’m not risking that again.”I exhaled sharply, trying to keep my anger in check. “That’s not your decision to make.”“It is when she’s our mate!” he snapped back, his voice rising.“Exactly! That’s why we should be listening to her, not shutting her down!”Damien sighed, rubbing his temple. “The problem isn’t whether or not the prophecy is
Mira POV Lucian’s eyes—those once familiar eyes—were now completely taken over by the beast. “Lucian!” Damien shouted, standing protectively in front of me as the monstrous creature roared, its claws dragging along the stone floor with terrifying force. He thrashed, wildly, furiously, knocking over everything in his path like a storm unhinged. Furniture flew into the walls. Metal cracked. And still, Lucian didn’t slow down. Damien tried again, reaching out not with words, but with something deeper—his connection to Lucian. “Come on, brother. You’re stronger than this,” Damien growled through gritted teeth, his voice rough with effort as he dodged the claws that came inches from tearing through him. “Fight it. This isn’t you.” But Lucian didn’t hear him. Or worse… he didn’t care. He lunged. Damien shoved me back, intercepting the blow. I screamed as they both crashed into a workbench. The wood shattered under their weight. I scrambled to my feet, heart pounding, li
Mira POV I tried and tried for hours, but it didn’t work. No matter how hard I focused, how much I strained to hear even the faintest sound, there was nothing. The voice never came back. I felt a burning frustration rise inside me, spreading through my chest and up to my throat until I could barely breathe. With a loud growl of anger, I jumped to my feet and marched straight to the door. I slammed my fists against it with all the force I could muster, again and again, until my knuckles ached. “Let me out!” I shouted, banging harder. “Open this door right now!” There was no response at first, just silence, as if they had all gone deaf. My heart pounded in my chest with growing rage. I hit the door even harder. “I said let me out!” Finally, one of the guards answered, his voice muffled through the heavy wood. “My lady, we have direct orders from the lycan kings not to let you out yet.” I gritted my teeth, fury flooding my veins. “It has been over an hour!” I shouted.
Mira POV I was frozen, completely bewildered. My heart pounded so loudly I could barely hear the rest of their voices. Deep down, I had a hunch about this before, a quiet suspicion gnawing at my thoughts when I started connecting the fragments of everything I’d read and heard. But I had hoped, foolishly hoped, that I was wrong. That it wasn’t true. Yet, here it was, unfolding right before my ears. Lucian was cursed. I pressed my palm to my chest, trying to steady my racing heart. “Impossible,” Rowan snapped, his voice sharp with disbelief. “It can’t be. Magic? Witches? You’re speaking madness, Damien.” Damien’s tone was grave as he responded. “Then give me a better explanation. Tell me, Rowan, what else explains this? We’ve used every known herb and remedy, and yet he’s only gotten worse.” “You know as well as I do,” Rowan argued back, a growl curling beneath his words, “witches haven’t been seen or heard of in decades.” Their argument escalated, voices rising a
Kai POV I stood on the balcony of my chamber, my eyes fixed on the distant horizon while my mind swirled in endless turmoil. No matter how many breaths I took, no matter how long I stared into the night sky, the heaviness in my chest wouldn’t ease. I gripped the railing harder until my knuckles turned pale. Lucian… my brother. My blood. I could feel it, the weakening of his life force, as though a string tied to him inside my soul was fraying thread by thread. The memories I had buried deep clawed their way to the surface, refusing to be silenced. It all began two years ago, though it felt like yesterday. Our fifth anniversary of becoming kings of Blackwood clan. The castle arena had been alive that day. Music, feasts, dancers swirling in their colourful robes, the smell of roasted meats filling the air. Chiefs, nobles, and councilmen from far and wide gathered, showering us with praise and wishes for long reigns. They laid down gifts at our feet, treasures of the
Kai POV The sky was still cloaked in darkness, though the faintest glow of dawn had begun to brush the horizon when our carriage rattled over the rocky terrain toward the Darkfire border. The journey had been long and heavy with silence at times, but inside the double space carriage, we found ourselves deep in conversation once again. The air was thick with anticipation.Rowan sat with his arms crossed, his gaze sharp and unwavering, while Damien leaned forward slightly, elbows on knees, brows drawn as he listened to me lay out the final version of our plan.“We go in under the guise of diplomacy,” I said, my voice calm, but firm. “We are visiting the King and the council to pay our respects. That’s the surface. But our real task—what we must accomplish before we leave—is to uncover the witches.”“Find Benard Sawyer,” Damien added, nodding. “And locate those woods—the site of the executions.”I nodded back. “Exactly. If the Last Witches truly died there, then the secrets of what
Mira POV The wind was soft, yet cold, brushing against my skin as I walked along the stone path leading to the shrine. The sun hung low in the sky, bleeding orange light over the trees that framed the sacred space. My steps were slow. Heavy. But steady.I had walked this path before.And yet, today felt different.The shrine loomed ahead, surrounded by people kneeling in prayer or whispering hushed words toward the sky. It was more crowded than usual, packed with villagers seeking comfort amidst the chaos that had overtaken our clan. Some clutched candles. Others held small, carved totems. Their eyes were glassy, tired. Lost.As soon as I was spotted, a small group broke off from the rest and hurried toward me.“My Queen,” one of them—a man no older than thirty—spoke first. “Please… what do we do now? The clan feels like it’s crumbling. We’ve heard whispers that the Kings have vanished.”“Are we at war again?” a woman asked, clutching her shawl tightly. “Is Blackwood falling a
Mira POV Pressure wrapped around me like a noose.It tightened more with every cry that echoed beyond the castle walls, the angry shouts of the clan members rising like a storm I couldn’t stop. My fingers trembled as I clasped them in my lap, seated on the edge of my bed, staring blankly at the door as if someone—anyone—would walk through it and tell me what to do.But no one came.The throne was mine. The responsibility was mine. For the first time, I was alone to rule.My mates—my kings—were gone. Their decision had been final. They left the castle with nothing but purpose in their stride and the weight of a plan I had no part in. And now, the clan wanted answers. Clarity. Leadership.From me.A pit had formed in my stomach. It felt cold and heavy, like a stone I’d swallowed but couldn’t digest. I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t wise like Kai or confident like Lucian. I wasn’t brave like Damien. I was just… Mira. A girl burdened by a legacy I didn’t ask for and secrets I wished I could
Mira POV I ran through the fields barefoot, the wind lashing my face. I was younger—perhaps thirteen—and the soft warmth of sunset bathed the skies above our small village.Laughter echoed behind me, the sound of teenagers playing a game I’d barely understood but tried to join. I had always watched them from the window of our cottage, envying their joy, their freedom. That day, for the first time, I had dared to approach.I remember how hesitant I was when I stepped into their circle. They looked at me, puzzled, surprised. I was the Chief’s daughter, the one who never spoke to anyone, the one who always looked distant. But they smiled, awkwardly at first, then welcomed me with timid warmth. I laughed—really laughed—for the first time in a long while as I tried to keep up with the game. It was clumsy and imperfect, but I had finally felt…human.Then he came.“Mira!” his deep, sharp voice split the air like a whip. Everyone turned.My heart dropped.My father stood at the edge of
Mira POV I stared at them, mouth slightly parted in disbelief. “You’re what?” I asked, even though I’d heard Kai’s words clearly the first time.“We’re going to the Darkfire clan,” Rowan said calmly, standing beside Kai with arms folded across his broad chest.My heart skipped. “Just like that? Without warning?”Kai’s voice was steady, resolute. “We’ve exhausted all our options, Mira. We’ve sent spies, scouts, even attempted magical tracking. Nothing’s led us to Baylor or any of the witches. It’s as though they’ve vanished from the realm.”“So, you’re going straight to the source?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Kai nodded. “Yes. To Benard Sawyer. He started this. Somehow, he brought them back from extinction. He knows something… and we intend to find out what.”“But why go yourselves?” I argued, stepping closer to them. “Why not send messengers? Or councilmen? Even your generals? You’re the rulers of this kingdom. Your lives aren’t just your own to gamble.”Rowan gave
Mira POV When I arrived at the shrine, I immediately knew something was different.The courtyard was crowded, more than I’d ever seen it. People were pouring in through the arched gates, their footsteps fast yet quiet, their heads bowed as though afraid to lift their eyes. Some clutched prayer beads, others held burning candles. A few sobbed quietly as they moved toward the inner sanctum.I stepped aside as a woman passed me, dragging two small children behind her. One of them looked up at me, his eyes swollen from crying. My heart twisted painfully.I made my way inside and found the head priestess, her wrinkled face lined even deeper than usual.“What’s going on?” I asked softly, trying not to let the heavy tension around us suffocate my voice.She turned to me with a tired expression. “The people are afraid,” she said, clasping her hands together. “Since the massacre… the castle guards, the bloodshed… word has spread.”I frowned. “Word?”The priestess nodded. “About the wit
Mira POV Two days later…I woke up before the sun had risen, the castle still blanketed in silence. For once, I didn’t wait for Adela or any of the handmaids to come in. I slipped out of bed, walked barefoot to the bath chamber, and poured myself a cold shower. The icy water hit my skin like a slap, but I welcomed it. I needed the numbness. My mind had been anything but still for the past two days.I couldn’t stop thinking about the massacre—the way the blood had soaked into the stone floors, the way the guards’ lifeless bodies had been carried away one by one. And the families… Gods, the families. They had gathered outside the castle gates yesterday, their wails cutting through the air like blades. Some had thrown stones, others had just fallen to their knees, begging for answers. Begging for justice.I stayed in the shower longer than necessary, hoping the water would wash away the unease churning inside me. It didn’t. When I stepped out, I dried myself quickly and dressed
Mira POVI sat quietly in the carriage beside Damien, the steady rhythm of the wheels rolling over the rugged trail doing little to ease the storm brewing inside me. The sun was still rising in the sky, casting golden beams through the trees, but my heart felt too heavy to appreciate any of it. We were heading to the place where Benard Sawyer was meant to be executed years ago. Damien sat across from me, flipping through an old parchment from the archives, but I knew we were both thinking about more than just the past.The silence stretched between us until I finally broke it.“How’s Lucian doing?” I asked, not looking at him. I didn’t know why I needed to know so badly. Maybe because the thought of losing him clawed painfully at the inside of my chest.Damien looked up at me, his expression shifting to something solemn. “He’s hanging on,” he said softly.“But not for long. The disciple told me the only thing that could really save him is complete faith—from the three of us.”I
Kai POVThe air was tense as we stormed toward Councilman Baylor’s chambers. I walked beside Rowan with six guards behind us, all alert and on edge. Damien and Mira had taken off earlier to the execution site where Benard Sawyer was once meant to die. I hoped they’d find something useful. But right now, our focus was Councilman Baylor.Rowan kept glancing at me as we moved through the corridor. “What if he’s already done it?” he asked, low but urgent. “What if he’s already summoned them?”I didn’t need to ask who he meant. “Then we’ll be too late,” I said. “But we can’t think like that. We have to act before they arrive.”Rowan didn’t speak again, but his jaw tightened. He knew as well as I did that there was no defense against witches—not unless we were prepared. And we weren’t. Not yet.When we arrived at Baylor’s chambers, they were eerily quiet. The guards took position at the doors while Rowan and I pushed inside. The room was dim, the curtains drawn, the fire out. It felt li