LOGINELISE’S POVYEARS LATER.The sun was warm that morning. The golden light filled the gardens. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I could just sit and breathe without fear sitting heavy in my chest. The air smelled sweet, full of roses, and the world felt gentle again.I sat under the will
Elise’s POVThe world stopped spinning the moment I saw it.The devourer.The thing Gina had called forth twisted behind her in a storm of shadows. Its form shifted into many forms. It was almost too terrible for the eyes to follow. It looked like smoke given flesh, like nightmares sculpted into bei
I swallowed hard. My tears blurred my vision.“Gina,” I whispered “This ends tonight. You and me.”The fight exploded in an instant.The courtyard shook beneath my feet as Gina and I circled each other.Gina tilted her head. Lyra whimpered in her arms. Every time my daughter screamed, the earth spli
ELISE’S POVJackson’s body was warm in my arms, but the life had already drained from his eyes. His lips were parted slightly, as if he still wanted to say something—something he hadn’t gotten the chance to tell me. My throat burned as I swallowed hard. Tears rolled down my eyes.Gina laughed loudly
ELISE’S POVI ran out of the battle field. I let my wolf guide me to Gina’s location. I could already perceive her scent in the air. But then I heard it.The scream.“Help! Someone—please!”My blood ran cold. That voice… it was my mother’s.I didn’t even think. My feet carried me , tracing her voice
ELISE’S POVThe sky darkened, swallowing every trace of sunlight. The eclipse had come.I stood at the window, staring at the darkness in the heavens. My heart was pounding so loud it drowned out the silence. The shadows crawled across the walls of the castle. The air was heavy with dread, and deep
ELISE’S POVWe moved in silence.The path to Vaelven was nothing like I’d imagined. The further we pushed into the Deadlands, the more time seemed to… bend. The air was thick and wrong, like we were walking through a dream we weren’t meant to see. Or worse—a memory the world had tried to forget. The
“We won’t,” Ferris said. “We’ll face it. Head-on. But we need to understand what we’re fighting first. Gina’s plan is much bigger than we thought. This isn’t just about revenge anymore. This is about unleashing something ancient.”The door burst open suddenly with a loud bang that sent the war table
Sophia looked at me“She’s begun the ritual. We’re out of time.”The door slammed open.“Elise!” Ferris’s voice echoed through the room. His eyes immediately found me. He crossed the room in two and wrapped his arms around me, clutching me like I was about to disappear.I collapsed into him, burying
Even the Thirteenth Claw retreated. They started shielding themselves with runes and sigils. But I stood still. The rune on my throat flared, and the creature bowed its head toward me. "I am no fool," I said, as silence returned. "I made a deal. I pay the price. But I hold the leash." "You’re ma







