LOGINLyrien’s POV
“Fine. But you have to promise me that you won't start a fight unless we have no other choice.”
Ryan gave me a faint, humorless smile. “I'll do my best.”
“That isn't exactly reassuring.” He literally tried to attack us when I met him.
“It's the best you're going to get.”
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help feeling a little relieved.
For the first time since I met him
Dimitri’s POV“Shouldn’t we stop him?” Drakar asked, but even if we tried, we couldn’t right now.I can go against my father, but against Caesar as well? Perhaps if my wolf and I were in top condition.Also, Caesar seemed to realize he’d crossed a line, but he continued anyway.“Your pack never respected Olga. They treated her as though she was nothing more than an ornament beside the Alpha. She was lonely, Alexi. She was miserable, and you were too busy being the perfect leader to notice.”My father's face darkened.“And why, exactly, do you think my pack would have respected her after discovering she'd cheated on their Alpha?”Caesar opened his mouth. Alexi didn't let him speak.“She betrayed me, Caesar. She betrayed our bond, our marriage, and the people who had accepted her as their Luna. You think they were going to
Dimitri’s POVTwo hours.Two damn hours had passed since Lirian left to meet Damon, and I was running out of excuses to convince myself everything was fine.I paced the room, my wolf growing more restless with every passing minute. Drakar had barely stopped growling in my head, and I was starting to feel like I might lose my mind if I had to wait any longer.“Something is wrong,” He had repeated that at least ten times.“I know,” I muttered.Across the room, Caesar looked up from his phone. “What?”“Nothing.”He narrowed his eyes at me. “You've been talking to your wolf for the past ten minutes. Either tell me what's going on, or stop pretending you aren't about to tear this place apart.”I stopped pacing and looked at him. “I’m going to find Lyrien.”Caesar immediately put his ph
Lyrien’s POVWe came up with different plans, but we still need one of the vampires to come and actually put them to use.So, I decided to chat with my uncle.“Ryan, what are you going to do after we escape?”He frowned. “What do you mean?”“I mean, once Damon is dealt with, what happens to you? Are you going to reclaim the throne?”He stared at me as though the thought hadn't even crossed his mind. Then he shook his head.“No.” I couldn’t say I was surprised by his answer; if he'd already left the throne once, he'd do it again. “I don't want to be king anymore.”Still, that doesn’t mean I agree with his decision. We already know what happens if he leaves. Unfortunately, I can’t allow another Damon to surface. The throne was made for Lilith’s descendants for a reason.“Ryan, you can't be serious.”
Lyrien’s POVI frowned. “Even if my power is awakening, that doesn’t mean you will access it.” I raised my hand, feeling the unfamiliar energy swirling beneath my skin. “Now you're going to find out what happens when I stop holding back.”Damon's expression hardened.For the first time since I'd entered this place, he looked at me as though he genuinely considered me a threat.Good.He should have.“You foolish girl.” He lunged toward me. “Do you really think you can—”He never finished his sentence. As he tried to touch me again, something inside me responded instinctively. The world blurred around me, and before Damon could touch me, I shimmered out of his reach.I reappeared several feet away.I stared at my hands.I'd done it. This felt way faster than before. As if I had reached a deeper power inside me, and this time it didn&r
Lyrien’s POVMy thoughts raced to Dimitri.He was waiting for me to return. He trusted me to handle this meeting, even though every instinct in him must have screamed to come with me.And Noah—My chest tightened.I couldn't let anything happen to me. Not when my son was waiting for me. Not when Dimitri and I had already lost so much time together.“Stay calm,” Vera urged. “We can still fight.”But as the vampires advanced, I realized that fighting might be exactly what Damon wanted.He wanted me cornered. He wanted me frightened. And if he couldn't convince me to give him my powers willingly, he would find another way to take them.Damon stopped beside the door and gave his men a small nod.“Take Ryan away,” he ordered. “I'll deal with Lyrien myself.”Ryan lunged before the vampi
Lyrien’s POV“Fine. But you have to promise me that you won't start a fight unless we have no other choice.”Ryan gave me a faint, humorless smile. “I'll do my best.”“That isn't exactly reassuring.” He literally tried to attack us when I met him.“It's the best you're going to get.”I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help feeling a little relieved.For the first time since I met him, I felt as though my uncle was standing beside me rather than against me.Maybe we still had a chance.“Let's go,” I said.Ryan stood, and we headed for the door together.Whatever happened next, at least I wouldn't be walking into the lion's den alone.The drive to the meeting location felt far shorter than I would have liked.Ryan stayed quiet for most of the drive, occasionally glancing out the window as if he were trying to recognize the







