Chapter 4

At seven that evening, Kane brought Celeste back to Blackwood Manor.

I'd just put the last of my clothes in my suitcase when I heard him calling me from the living room.

“Ella, come sign this.”

An accident settlement and a statement assigning fault lay on the coffee table.

The statement claimed I'd told my driver to change lanes suddenly, leaving Celeste no time to avoid hitting my car.

If I signed it, she'd escape the Blackwood family's investigation, and her chance at the elite hunting squad tryouts would be safe.

“The accident happened because she bent down to pick up her communicator.”

I pushed the papers back.

“The guards have a record of what happened, and the crystal in my car can prove it too.”

Celeste's eyes welled up at once.

“Ella, I know I messed up.”

She kept her head down, her voice trembling.

“But the elite hunting squad tryouts are next week. If I have a driving violation on my record, I'll never get another chance.”

She'd wanted to join the hunting squad since school. To support her, I'd practiced tracking with her and even lent her the prize money I'd saved so she could buy gear.

And now she wanted me to take the blame for the accident.

Kane set a pen in front of me.

“You've already missed your assessment. Holding her responsible won't change anything.”

He paused before adding, “Sign it, and I'll build you a new rune workshop.”

Here we go again.

As if enough compensation could make me accept everything he decided and pretend none of it had hurt me.

“I'm not signing.”

Kane's face hardened. He called Rhys.

“Stop renewing the lease on Ella's father's workshop. Have people go in tonight and inventory everything inside.”

I shot to my feet.

“You can't touch that place!”

After my father died, the Blackwood family took care of his workshop for me. It held a lifetime of his rune manuscripts, and I'd finished my ward design there.

“That's what my father left me.”

“That's why I'm letting you decide.”

Kane looked at me, so calm it was almost cruel. “Sign, and the workshop stays. Our mating ceremony goes ahead as planned.”

Celeste grabbed his arm in a hurry.

“Kane, don't pressure Ella for my sake.”

Then, to my shock, she grabbed both my hands and started begging.

“I'm sorry. I'll compensate you for your ruined work. But these tryouts really matter to me. You've always supported me. Can't you help me just one last time?”

Kane checked the time.

“I'll give you one minute.”

Right then, the workshop caretaker called.

“Ms. Wren, the Blackwood family's people are already here. They say they're clearing out the workshop tonight! Your father's manuscripts are all being carried out, and it's raining out here...”

Then a video came through.

The workshop door had been taken off its hinges. Boxes of manuscripts were piled beside a truck.

A few yellowed drawings blew loose in the wind, and the rain soaked through them in seconds.

I ran for the door, but Kane blocked me.

“Sign, and they'll stop.”

“You promised me you'd take care of that workshop for me!”

“I also promised Celeste I'd make sure she got her chance at the tryouts.”

He didn't budge.

In the video, pages of my father's manuscripts were swept into the rain one after another, as though he were slipping away from me all over again.

I finally took the pen and signed the settlement.

Every stroke felt like cutting my own heart open.

The moment I finished, Kane told Rhys to call off the cleanout.

“That's more like it.”

He reached for my shoulder, and I stepped back.

Celeste was still in tears, apologizing over and over.

I pulled off my engagement ring and put it in her hand.

“It's fine. Whatever you want, it's yours.”

Kane himself, and my place by his side as his fated mate.

Kane's face changed.

“Ella, take the ring back.”

I grabbed my suitcase. Only then did he notice the luggage by the door.

“Where are you going?”

“To the workshop. To check on my father's manuscripts.”

“Go tonight, then. I'll pick you up tomorrow.”

He obviously thought I was just angry. I didn't answer.

Suddenly Celeste said her wrist hurt, and Kane turned right away to check it.

“Stop being dramatic,” he said without even looking back. “Come home when you've cooled off. Celeste and I will be here waiting for you.”

I scoffed. After I left, I went straight to the Moon Goddess's altar and had the witch remove the mating mark that bound me to Kane.

Removing the mark was excruciating, yet I couldn't help smiling with relief.

At last, I'd found the courage to cut every tie with Kane.

I didn't wait the seven days. That same night, I got on a plane to London.

Goodbye, Kane. This time, it's for good.