Ava's povI didn’t remember falling asleep.One moment I was staring at the ceiling, my mind racing with a million thoughts and the next, I was standing in a vast void.I knew this place.I had been here before, months ago.A soft glow of silver light approached me from the sky, the air was filled with an ancient power that sent a warm feeling through my veins.Then, she appeared.The Moon Goddess.She stood before me in her radiant and ethereal glory, her flowing silver robes shimmering like liquid light. Her shiny hair cascaded down her back, her sincere eyes shining and holding wisdom of agesBut there was something else there, something sad in her expression.“You have called for guidance, child,” she said.Her voice was just as soft and powerful as the first day I had met her with Aria, her voice filled the space around us.I swallowed hard. “Zerathos has my power. He stole the bombs infused with my light. I don’t know how to stop him.”She studied me for a long, thoughtful mome
Ava's pov“The Moon Goddess came to me again in my dreams.” I said, my voice urgent. “She gave me a way to remove my power from the bombs. A ritual. If I do it, Zerathos won’t be able to use them against us.”His expression darkened. “A ritual?”I nodded. “It’s a complex process and it will leave me vulnerable for a time. But if I don’t do this, he’ll use those bombs to wipe out everything.”Xander was silent for a long moment, his jaw clenching and his hands curled into fists on the desk.Then, he stood up. “No.”I blinked. “What?”“No,” he repeated, his voice firmer this time. “It’s too dangerous. If this ritual leaves you vulnerable, what happens if Zerathos feels it? What if he chooses to strike at that moment?”“We don’t have a choice,” I argued. “We can’t risk him using those bombs. You saw what one did to Blackthorn now imagine what an entire collection could do.”Xander exhaled in frustration, running a hand through his hair. “Damn it, Ava.”He was torn. I could see it in the
Ava’s POVThe weight of what I was about to do had finally settled upon me. I had been in a haste all along, fueled by an adrenaline rush that I hadn't even bothered to stop and think about the consequences. Now, we were already in motion so there wasn't any time to think.Every muscle in my body felt tense, my mind racing with all the possible outcomes—both good and bad.The ritual had to work.There was no other option.The Lightforge was buzzing with activity as we prepared for what was to come. Every warrior and enforcer in Blackthorn had been put on high alert. Xander had ordered extra patrol guards to be stationed around the castle grounds, ensuring that not a single thing could slip through unnoticed.I stood in the center of the forge, surrounded by my closest and only friends. Rowan and Kaida were drawing protective runes on the stone floor with crushed starlight powder, an ancient substance that amplified light magic. Kael was adjusting the positions of the enchanted lantern
Ava's pov)Run.That was the only thought replaying in my head as I ran through the spirit realm, my breath coming in ragged pants.I pumped my legs as hard as I could, willing my body to go faster.I made the mistake of looking back, eyes widening as I saw the darkness coming close to me.Zerathos roared, it was filled with so much rage that even the air trembled. His power slammed into the ground causing the shimmery liquid like surface to crack.I have to get out.I have to sever my magic.The spirit realm kept changing around me, like we were disrupting its balance. The landscape kept changing into different things— endless skies, towering buildings, rivers flowing upwards instead of downwards.This realm was a free space of magic and anyone with strong magic can change it to their willAnd Zerathos was far stronger than me here.“You can’t run from me, little goddess,” his voice echoed through the space, slithering into my ears, sending a shiver down my spine.I risked another gl
Xander's povThe entire room was heavy with tension. Ava was still trembling in my arms, her face pale, eyes unfocused as if she were still stuck between realms. Leo hadn't stopped growling since she returned and told us what had happened.Zerathos had tried to claim her.Tried to replace her bond with the Moon Goddess.Tried to take her.The very thought sent a murderous growl rumbling through my chest, my grip tightening around Ava instinctively. She had fought him off, but it wasn’t enough. He had touched her, reached her in a way no enemy ever should.I exhaled sharply, trying to focus on what mattered most. The ritual had worked. The bombs infused with Ava’s light magic were useless to the rebels now. But this… this was a deeper problem.“We need to talk,” I said, my voice firm but low enough not to startle Ava.Rowan, Kael, Vanessa, Kaida, Lucien, and Darius were all watching us closely. Their expressions ranged from concern to outright fury.Darius was the first to speak. “What
Ava's povThe dream started the way all nightmares did, it was too quiet, too still.I was standing in a vast, endless void of nothing, the ground swirling with black mist that stretched as far as my eyes could see. The air was thick, suffocating and laced with the smell of evil and death.Every breath I took felt heavier, as if the air was pressing against my chest. I tried to find my bearings but there was nothing. No ground beneath my feet, no sky above me. Just endless black stretching in every direction.A shiver ran down my spine.Something was wrong.I turned slowly, my heartbeat picking up. I was alone.Or so I thought.Suddenly, a deep, dark voice broke the silence."Did you really think you could escape me, little moon?"My entire body went rigid.That voice.I knew it.I had fought it. Resisted it. Ripped my magic away from his grasp. And yet, somehow, I was here again, back in the abyss of Zerathos' world.I clenched my fists, my heart pounding in my chest as I summoned ev
Ava's povI clenched my teeth, forcing my eyes open, forcing my body to resist.“You don’t control me,” I hissed.Zerathos frowned, his grip tightening. “Why fight, Ava? You were born from the dark.”“I was reborn in the light.”I gathered every ounce of willpower I had left and shoved against him.A crack of golden light burst between us, making him stagger back.The shadows around me recoiled.I gasped, stumbling backward, my body still shaking from the darkness he had poured into me.Zerathos scowled, his gold eyes burning with irritation. “This isn’t over, little goddess.”I turned and ran.The darkness shifted around me, grabbing at my heels.Zerathos’ roar shook the void. “You can’t escape me!”My feet pounded against the nothingness, my lungs burning.I had to wake up.Had to get out.I saw something up ahead, a light in the abyss. I reached for it with every strength in my body.Then, just as zerathos reached me—I woke up.****My body shot upright, my breath ragged, my skin
Ava's povThe morning air was nice as usual stepped onto the balcony of our chamber, the familiar sound of Blackthorn castle stirring as the servants and guards alike started their daily activities. But something felt… off.I exhaled slowly, watching as my breath fogged in front of me. I had a hard time falling asleep after the nightmare last night, I barely managed to close my eyes again and before I knew it, it was dawn. Even now, the memory of Zerathos voice kept replaying in my thoughts like a plague that refused to go.You’re already mine, Ava.A shiver ran down my spine. I shook my head, gripping the stone railing at the thought. It was just a dream, I told myself. He isn't here, he can't be here.But deep down, I wasn’t convinced.Because something had changed.The shadows around me were moving in an unnatural way. At first, I thought it was just a trick for my eye but I kept seeing it.I frowned, turning my gaze to the corner of the balcony where the morning light hadn't touch
Ava's povSunlight spilled through the high windows of the grand hall, gleaming on the silver fixtures and dishware. For the first time in months, the hall wasn't empty. Laughter echoed all around me, mingling with the clinking of cutlery and the smell of warm bread and honeyed meats.I sat between Xander and Vanessa, my fingers curled around a steaming cup of tea. My stomach fluttered—not from nerves, but from something far newer. Something growing.The thought never failed to pull a smile to my face.I glanced around at the faces gathered at the table. Rowan was teasing Kael over a burnt piece of toast, Kaida sat beside him, her hand resting lightly on his wrist. Lyra was at the far end, wrapped in a thick shawl, her expression quiet but calm, a faint smile playing on her lips as she watched them. There was no tension in her shoulders.They were all here.All of them.And that meant more to me than any feast ever could.“Gods,” Vanessa said, stretching back in her seat. “It’s been f
Ava's povThe morning sunlight filtered in through the tall windows, casting soft golden glow across the stone walls of our chambers. The fire from last night had burned down to glowing embers, but I still felt warm—safe in the memory of the stars and the enormity of the secret I’d carried all night.I smiled, rubbing my tummy even though it didn't have a bump. It all still felt like a dream to me. I couldn't believe that I was carrying my child— out child— and would soon be able to hold him or her in my arms.This was like a reward from the gods for taking down zerathos. It was the most perfect gift.Xander’s scent hit me before I heard his footsteps. Woodsy. Earthy and a hint of citrus.He pushed the door open with ease, stridijg in, he was already halfway out of his ceremonial coat, his black shirt clinging to his chest beneath it. His eyes found me immediately—still seated at the edge of the bed, half-dressed, barefoot, lost in my thoughts.“There you are,” he said, his voice soft
Ava's povPregnant.The word sat on my tongue like a secret not yet ready for the world to know. Heavy and new. Sacred. My hands trembled as I exited the healer’s wing, the soft glow of lanterns lining the path doing little to light the darkness within me.It wasn't a bad darkness, it was just confusion.The corridor behind me felt like it belonged to another world—a place of certainty and whispered truths. Healers always knew things, some that we wanted to hear and the ones that we didn't want to hear. Out here, beneath the dark sky things felt more real.Too real.I walked slowly, aimlessly, not ready to return to the castle after what I had just learned. Not ready to face anyone. Especially not Xander.Not yet.The gardens were quiet this time of night. Peaceful. A hush had settled over the grounds, as though the very earth was holding its breath. The petals of Kaida’s cherry blossom tree glowed pale pink in the moonlight, and I found myself drawn toward it. Toward the spot we alwa
Ava's povSunlight streamed through the tall windows of the Blackthorn castle, warm and golden as it spilled across the newly polished floors. I stood at the balcony just outside the council chamber, my eyes tracing the distant tree lines. Smoke no longer rose from the hills. Screams no longer echoed through the valley.Peace.It was strange how something we fought so long and hard for could feel so… quiet.I placed a hand over my stomach. That now familiar queasiness cane again, subtle but persistent. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, grounding myself the way I’d been practicing since taking on the Luna title. Calm. Poise. Grace.“Luna Ava?” A voice called gently from behind. One of the omegas.“Yes?”“Lady Vanessa and the others are waiting in the courtyard. You said you wanted to walk with them today?”“Yes. Thank you.”I smiled and nodded, but the moment I turned my back, the nausea returned—like it never left. I gritted my teeth and blinked back the faint dizziness. I've been
Xander's povThe night was quiet, save for the faint crackling of the fire still burning at the center of camp.But Ava… she had curled up beside me, her head on my shoulder, her fingers gently tucked against my arm. Her breathing slowed sometime between Rowan’s quiet jokes, Vanessa blushing with Kael teasing her and Lyra sitting in silence after her brief confession.She fell asleep there, in the circle of firelight and friends and whispered memories.I couldn’t bear to wake her.So I carried her.Her warmth pressed against my chest as I walked us to the chambers we’d been assigned in the temporary Ashville pack house. The bed was a bit small but clean, sheets tucked in and blankets folded. I laid her down carefully, brushing a stray strand of hair from her cheek before covering her with the blanket.I wanted to stay awake and watch over her. Zerathos may be gone but he has left a lasting trauma and fear of the shadows. I was scared that if I closed my eyes and opened it I would real
Rowan's POVLyra’s breathing had finally evened out beside me, a soft, steady rhythm that showed that she was finally at ease and I was glad. She didn’t say another word after I wrapped the blanket around her and sat by her side. She didn’t need to.I looked at her, really looked.Her face had lost weight in the past months, the edges sharper now—grief had carved out the softness she once had so effortlessly. The dark, sunken circles beneath her eyes told me she hadn’t been sleeping much. And even now, in the calm after the war, her body was tense beneath the blanket, like she was ready to spring awake at any given time if someone so much as touched her. .But she had opened up.That alone made something in my chest unclench for the first time in weeks.I tilted my head back, let my eyes gaze up to the stars, but even their beauty felt muted tonight. Everything felt… dulled. Like we’d survived the fire, only to emerge into the ashes.But she talked. She talked.And I’d take that over
Lyra’s POVThe fire had burned down to little fire, and one by one, they drifted off to sleep. Ava had fallen asleep curled against Xander’s chest. Vanessa and Kael were tangled up on a blanket near the edge of the camp, whispering and grinning like the war had never happened and they were in some sort of fairytale. Like they’d known peace all their lives.I was happy and envious of them so I forced myself to look away.Rowan had stayed with me.He always did.By the time the last bit of fire was snuffed and silence had settled over the camp, he rose, wordless, and offered me his hand. I took it, letting him guide me away from the others, deeper into the shadows where the weight of their stares couldn’t follow.We walked to a place in Ashville that we liked. It was a little hill above the camp where the entire land could be seen and the sky felt so close. The stars were particularly bright on that night, I just stood there and took a deep breath.The night air was cold, crisp, almost
Lyra’s povI don't know how long we sat there but I had droned out their conversation as I watched the burning fire. Suddenly, I felt the air shift. It wasn't the regular shift.But this time, it was different.Tense. Sharp.I knew why.I could feel it, their eyes were on me.And they deserved answers.I just wasn’t sure I had the strength to give them.Rowan came even closer, a steady wall beside me, his warmth grounding. He hadn't spoken much, just held my hand quietly under the blanket we shared. It should’ve comforted me more than it did. But the guilt clung to me, curling in my chest like a shadow that refused to be exorcised.I peeped at Ava across the fire, her knees were pulled to her chest, arms loosely wrapped around them. Xander had stood up and was standing just behind her, arms crossed, his gaze unreadable as it flicked from person to person—though it lingered on me more often than not.I was almost certain I could go the night without a word being said. That they’d keep
Lyra’s POVThe crackling of the campfire sounded distant just like the faint sound of voices laughing and talking. Familiar voices. Ones that once meant comfort and strength. Now, they sounded foreign and distant, like echoes bouncing off the thick stone walls of guilt I had built around myself.I sat wrapped in my cloak, hood drawn low, body leaning into Rowan’s side. His warmth was steady, grounding. I could feel his heart through the fabric, steady as a drum, but there was a tension in the way he held me. He didn’t trust me—not entirely. I didn’t blame him.They had every right not to.Ashville was ruined. The war was over. And I had helped start it. They just didn't know that.I didn’t know how to look them in the eyes, not after what I had done.Ava’s laugh echoed through the air, loud and carefree, like birds chirping and singing during the summer. She teased Vanessa about how she once fought her over Xander. Vanessa rolled her eyes but smiled, her fingers tangled with Kael’s. I