JADE’S POVThe days after our return were heavy. Everyone seemed to be healing slowly, but I couldn’t.Because the wound I carried wasn’t on my body it was inside my heart.Manuel kept his distance from me.He barely spoke, and when he did, it was only to say hurtful things.Yet every time he looked at me, I still saw the little boy I once rocked to sleep even if his eyes were colder now.One morning, I found him sitting alone in the garden, tossing small stones into the fountain. I walked toward him quietly.“Good morning, sweetheart,” I said softly. “You didn’t come for breakfast.”“I wasn’t hungry,” he replied without looking at me.“You didn’t eat dinner last night either.”“So?” His voice was sharp.I smiled gently. “You’ll get sick if you keep skipping meals.”He picked another stone and threw it hard into the water. “Maybe I want to get sick.”I knelt beside him. “Why would you want that?”He finally looked at me, and my heart hurt when I saw the emptiness in his eyes.“Because
JADE’S POVThe air in the villa felt strangely heavy when we returned from Melanie’s fortress. Everyone was tired, wounded, and quiet. But my heart still raced, not because of the fight we escaped, but because of my son walking beside me.Manuel.My son.My heart.He didn’t look at me once during the whole journey back. Not a word. Not even when I tried to hold his hand.When we entered the living room, I froze.Metatron was already there, standing near the fireplace, his long white robe flowing like mist. His eyes were calm yet sharp met mine.“Father…” I whispered, surprised.He smiled faintly. “Welcome back, Jade. You’ve seen what Melanie has become.”Kieran stepped forward quickly. “Metatron, you knew she’d appear, didn’t you?”Metatron nodded slowly. “Yes. I felt her presence before you did.”Hardin crossed his arms. “Then why didn’t you warn us?”“Because some battles must be fought,” Metatron said. “Even if you’re not ready.”Kieran exhaled and nodded in agreement, though his e
MELANIE’S POVThe air in my throne room crackled with rage.The walls trembled as I threw a glass of crimson wine across the floor. It shattered into a thousand pieces.“Alex!” I screamed. “How dare you face them without my order?”He stood by the doorway, head bowed, his armor still dented from Kieran’s strike. “I thought I could handle them, my queen.”I stalked toward him, my gown trailing across the black marble. “Handle them?” My voice was sharp as ice. “You nearly got yourself killed and worse, you made me hand them their son!”Alex clenched his fists. “I didn’t mean to, my queen. Please pardon me.”“Pardon you?!” I snapped. My hand glowed with dark light, and the air around him burned with invisible fire.He groaned but didn’t move. “You need me alive, remember?”I stopped, narrowing my eyes. “Do not test me, Alex. You are replaceable.”He straightened slowly, blood dripping from his mouth. “Maybe. But no one else fights for you like I do.”For a long moment, I said nothing. Th
JADE’S POVThe night was silent, too silent for comfort.We stood before the mouth of the tunnel, a black hole beneath the roots of the dead forest. A cold wind blew from within, carrying the stench of blood and burnt ash.Hardin sniffed the air and growled. “This is it.”Kieran nodded. “Stay close. The tunnel’s full of traps.”Alvina’s silver eyes gleamed faintly in the dark. “Melanie doesn’t want anyone getting in… or out.”I swallowed hard. “Then we’ll make her regret underestimating us.”Kieran gave me a faint smirk before stepping forward. His body glowed faintly gold, the air trembling around him as his power spread through the walls.He snapped his fingers. “Watch your step.”The ground shook suddenly BOOM! — and sharp spikes shot from the earth where we had just been standing.Hardin whistled. “Nice catch.”Kieran replied, “Told you, traps.”We moved carefully, one step at a time. The air grew thicker as we went deeper. Strange whispers echoed through the tunnel, like ghosts c
JADE’S POVKieran sat on a rock near the edge of the dark forest, staring at his hands. The golden glow that once covered his skin was gone. Only faint scars of shadow magic remained.I stood beside him quietly, afraid to break the stillness. Hardin, however, didn’t believe in silence for long.He crossed his arms and said, “Alright, let’s talk. What happened to our sworn brothers, Kieran? Where are they?”Kieran didn’t look up. “They’re alive… barely. Melanie’s holding them in her dungeon beneath the dark tower.”Hardin frowned. “All of them?”Kieran nodded slowly. “Bryan, Scott… even Selene. She’s feeding off their powers, using their energy to build her army.”Alvina gasped softly. “Bryan too?” Her voice cracked a little.Kieran’s eyes softened when he looked at her. “Yes, Bryan too. I’m sorry, Alvina.”She swallowed hard and looked away. “He was… he is my mate. I should’ve been the one in that dungeon, not him.”Hardin stepped closer and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Hey, don’t
JADE’S POVThe red light was blinding when we stepped through the door.For a moment, I couldn’t see anything. The air was hot and heavy, thick with the smell of smoke and roses.Then the light faded, and we were standing inside a huge hall made of black stone. Flames burned in golden bowls on each side, and at the far end stood a tall throne carved from crystal and bone.And sitting on it… was Melanie.Her red dress shimmered like liquid fire. Her silver hair fell in waves over her shoulders, and her crimson lips curved into a wicked smile.“Welcome,” she said softly, her voice echoing across the hall. “I was beginning to think you wouldn’t make it, Jade.”I stared at her coldly. “I’m not here for games, Melanie. Where is Kieran?”Melanie’s eyes sparkled. “Straight to the point. How very unlike you.”Hardin stepped beside me, hand on his sword. “Don’t waste our time. Bring him out and also my sworn brothers. I fact every of your prisoners”Melanie chuckled. “Ah, Hardin. Still so loya