LOGINLuluIt’s been two days since Caspian admitted the bitter truth about our imperfect bond. For those same two days, we’ve been taking turns scouring every corner of this stifling city, trying to find any trace of Vane.We move in an awkward silence. Even though Caspian keeps trying small things, like making sure I eat properly or draping a blanket over me when I fall asleep from exhaustion, I still keep my distance.Trust, once cracked, doesn’t mend in a single night of regret.That afternoon, the terrace of our inn is quieter than usual. Normally it’s packed with sorcerers chatting away or lounging about, sipping tea that smells suspiciously like horse dung.We’re sat on a bench a bit further from the entrance when Dren approaches. Without much fuss, he hands Caspian a rolled parchment.“Master Thaddeus invites you to the Velodrome tomorrow,” Dren says shortly before walking off. “There’s a show you wouldn’t want to miss as honoured guests.”I glance at Caspian, and I know we’re think
LuluCaspian quickly pulled off what was left of his torn shirt and wrapped it around me.“Don’t touch me!” I snapped, my voice hoarse, my throat still burning.I shoved his hand away, clutching the shirt tighter around my shaking body.“Lulu, you’re hurt. Let me see it,” Caspian said, his voice frustrated but laced with regret. He sat down on the ground in front of me, keeping the distance I’d asked for.“No.” I stared at him, my eyes stinging with tears that refused to fall. “It still hurts and that’s because of you.”“Sorry,” Caspian cut in. “I had to do it. I just didn’t expect things to go this far.”“Easy for you to say when I’m the one they tortured worse.” My voice rose.“I know, but I couldn’t stand seeing you like that either.”“You should’ve told me!” I shouted, the pain in my chest flaring. “Why didn’t you tell me about Niobe? Why did you let me think she betrayed us?”Caspian looked down, unable to meet my eyes. “Because Niobe’s cover is fragile. The fewer people who know
LuluFor the Moon Goddess’s sake, the stench of corpses around me was even worse than death usually smelled.I was still in Pyrrha’s form. My paws were soaked in a mix of water from Caspian’s attack and the enemies’ blood. My fangs were still clenched tight, bits of one of those fire witches’ flesh caught between them.My eyes locked back onto Niobe. She stood there, at the edge of the shattered ritual circle, looking far too calm for someone who had just witnessed a massacre.Her clothes were neat. Her hair wasn’t even out of place. Compared to me who had just gone through something that felt like being skinned alive.Caspian, who had just shifted back from his feral Morpheus form, looked terrifying even now. Naked, his body covered in cuts and bruises, smeared with blood and mud. But he ignored all of it and walked straight toward Niobe.“Well done, Niobe.” Caspian’s words echoed in my head, hitting harder than any fire spell. “Your report on this ritual came in a bit late, but you
Lulu“Bit funny, innit? Two wolves stalking us when this place is miles from any pack territory.” The leader’s voice slithered under my skin.We were on our knees in the middle of a pulsing ring of blood, bound and helpless as he drifted closer. His robe whispered over the rocky ground, the sound dry—like sandpaper scraping.He stopped right in front of me. His thin, pale hand shot out, grabbing the collar of my already torn shirt from when I fell off that cliff earlier. With a rough yank, he ripped it open, exposing the ugly scar across my chest—the mark from the night everything was taken from me.The sorcerer’s eyes widened. He sucked in a sharp breath, then let out a raspy laugh.“Well, well,” he murmured, his voice trembling with sick excitement. “Vane really was too stupid to let you live, Lulu.”I tilted my head up, staring into the face beneath the hood. His skin was deathly pale, black veins bulging at his temples.I didn’t know him. I was sure I’d never seen him before, but
LuluAnger burned hotter than the pain across my back. I could feel my wolf, Pyrrha, clawing at the walls of my mind, her fangs itching to rip Niobe’s throat out.Siphora—Caspian’s trusted aide, the woman who handled the magical affairs at Sapphire Water—was just standing there. She wasn’t being tortured. She wasn’t being held captive. She was chatting with that robed sorcerer like they were discussing the weather at a morning market.I grabbed Caspian’s arm. My nails lengthened, piercing through his sleeve and into his skin. My eyes demanded answers. He didn’t even flinch. His face was as cold as a mountaintop, his gaze flat, almost lifeless as he watched the betrayal unfolding in front of us.“Caspian, explain,” I hissed, my voice rough, muffled by Elaria’s invisibility spell still wrapped around us. “Why are you just standing there? She’s betrayed you. She’s betrayed the pack.”He didn’t look at me. He just took my hand, squeezing it firmly—a silent order to stay still. “Hold yours
Lulu“Don’t move yet, Luna.”Sandra pressed a burn ointment onto my back, trying to speed up the healing.She said burns caused by magic take longer for a wolf to recover from compared to normal burns. I’d only just learned that after Caspian raised his voice slightly when telling her to treat me.“Hang in there, Lulu,” Caspian murmured, his voice low, full of concern.“You really know your stuff, Alpha. It’s cool and soothing.”Caspian just smiled at the compliment.The burning ache that had been spreading down my back all the way to my tailbone slowly faded, replaced by a cool, calming sensation. His water magic was doing a decent job easing the inflammation—one of the perks of being his mate, I suppose. Still, a dull throb lingered beneath the surface, a reminder that whatever we were up against wasn’t something ordinary.“At least we got some useful information before that Dark Sorcerer went and burned himself alive,” I said, voicing my thoughts.My mind was still spinning from th
CaspianI woke before the first light touched the horizon. The air in the room was thick—heavy with the sharp tang of magic and the scent of lilies clinging to Lulu, who was still fast asleep beside me.I watched her for a moment—the woman who’d become the eye of every storm in my life.Then, a sub
Lulu“So… we’re still moving rooms, right?” I asked, hoping Caspian would agree.“Yeah,” he said, though he hesitated.I knew why. He didn’t want to disrespect our host’s offer. Refusing would only make things harder for us here. Elaria’s goodwill was the one thing we could use if we wanted to inve
LuluSalt flooded my mouth as I choked, seawater pouring out of my nose and throat in one brutal, burning gasp. My body felt impossibly heavy, pinned down by the water hurled at me with a vicious swing of his arm.When the miniature wave finally receded, I managed to push myself up from the cold, s
Lulu“I just had a dream.”I told Caspian about it after a silence that had gone on far too long to feel normal.We were standing in the room Niobe usually used for private talks. The crystal lamps along the walls glowed dimly, casting long shadows across the floor. The night air was still cool, ye







