เข้าสู่ระบบCalla's PovI had been holding Lucien for so long that when I finally loosened my grip, my arms trembled like they no longer function.He lay half-slumped against a rock, his breathing shallow and every rise of his chest served as a question mark that scraped against my nerves. The arrow wound on his shoulder had darkened and the black veins had spread outward like ink dropped into water. I could almost see it crawling like it owned his body.I stood up slowly, my knees protesting but my eyes didn't leave him. I didn't know what to say nor did I know what to do.I mean, why did I care? I wanted him hurt, right? And I wanted him to feel what I feel…the pain, the humiliation. And now he was feeling the pain, so why did I want it to stop? Only if this bond that surge between us could be broken. Fenric was crouched beside him, one of his hands pressed flat to Lucien's chest as if he could will his heart to behave well. His brow was damp with sweat and his face was laced with fear. I cou
Rian's POV I paced the length of the hideout until the soles of my boots were dusted white with crushed stone.The place was temporary, carved between slabs of rocks after the Ironwood flushed us from the old den. I hated temporary things because they bred mistakes. They made men restless and restless men died.We had already lost seven… seven good fighters, cut down in the ambush Ironwood unleashed after Calla and Lucien met us at our hideout. Someone must have been watching them or maybe they were watching us too. Something had to be done to the Ironwood pack. We must extinct them but we need Calla.My hands crossed each other behind my back as I stopped near the mouth of the cavern, staring out into the ravine below. Wind whistled, dragging through the rocks. Some of my men were training but that wouldn't be enough. We were becoming less in number because of the Ironwood and I wondered how many men would remain to fight when the opportunity comes.Lucien had vanished and so had
Lucien's POV“We need to go back to Rian and find the cure.” Fenric said with a panicked voice.“We don't have time,” I said flatly, my voice sounding more confident than I felt. “Nightmoor comes first.”Calla's head snapped toward me with sharp eyes. “No,” she said immediately. “We find the cure first.”I shook my head once, already moving. “We all know why Rian did it. There's no guarantee he will give it.”“That's not true,” she shot back. “He has it. And you're dying.”Fenric cut in before I could answer. “She's right, Lucien. Shadow-Rot isn't something you muscle through. You need the antidote.”“We could just give them what they want and get the cure from him.” Calla rattled on with her words. “This isn't right. Nightmoor is compromised and we both know that, then you have to be in the right state to fight back.”I stopped walking and I turned to face them both. “You don't get to tell me what to do,” I said, my gaze locking on Calla. “We need to get to the Nightmoor.”I was sure
Calla's POV My father's name echoed in my head long after Rian stopped speaking. I told myself it couldn't happen because he wouldn't— because he couldn't. But that was a lie, right?If my father could use me as a bait for his own gain, he could do anything else. Rian claimed he had chosen a six but I had no idea how bad it was.I was jolted from my own thoughts when I felt a touch around my wrist. It was Lucien. I wrenched my hand free from his hold.“That's a lie, right?” I asked and Rian only smiled.Lucien moved closer to me but he didn't touch me this time, “Rian,” his voice sounded deep. “If this is manipulation —”The forest exploded in flames and Lucien could not complete his words. The first howl tore through the trees like a blade through flesh. The Ironwood found us.“Down!” Someone yelled.I barely had time to register the shift before chaos swallowed us whole. Arrows whistled through the air, splintering against rock. Ironwood warriors burst from the treeline like traine
Calla's POV Lucien grunted, staggering but staying on his feet. The bond screamed, a hot surge of pain and fury ripping through my chest. “Lyra, stop it!” I ordered. “Tell them to stop it.”She turned to face me. “Calla, he's Nightmoor. The Alpha of Nightmoor.”“So am I.” I yelled, the words escaping my mouth before I realized it. “He's not the enemy. Not today.”Another blow landed, this one heavier. Lucien gasped but he didn't fight back. He raised his head slowly, blood at the corner of his mouth, his eyes locking on mine. The bond tightened, carrying his question like a sharp blade held to my chest. ‘is this what you wanted?’I didn't remember deciding to move. One moment, Lyra’s fingers were still curled firmly around my wrist and the next moment, I tore free from her hold. I ran, crossed the space between us in two strides and stood my ground beside Lucien like my body had already chosen where it belonged. I was in front of him. The shadow pack warriors looked confused, like
Lucien's POV I had killed three of them before I realized I wasn't watching the fight anymore.Sweat dripped from my face as I tore the dagger from an Ironwood scout's grip and drove him into the dirt. I was above him and he was below me, his breath rattling out of his chest in ragged gasp. I turned, already tracking the last threat with my eyes.But then, I got distracted. Calla.She stood in the clearing like she had done this before. Blood steamed down from her forearm, her hair had come loose from its tie and her chest rose and fell with heavy breaths as it was obvious through her cloth. There was no panic in her eyes. Not even a slight hesitation. There was only focus— focus on wiping the threat before her.The last Ironwood who had charged at her never stood a chance. I watched her pivot at the exact moment he surged forward. She didn't rush and she didn't move immediately. She simply waited until his strike gave a gap and then she slid aside and struck her blade right through







