KNOXI pace back and forth in front of Aubrey's bed, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. The afternoon sunlight streams through the tall windows of her chambers, casting long shadows across the stone floor. "Knox, you're making me dizzy," she says, a hint of amusement in her voice despite the exhaustion that still lingers in her green eyes. "Just tell me what's bothering you."I stop pacing and turn to face her, my heart hammering against my ribcage. The words I've been rehearsing in my head suddenly feel impossible to say. I run a hand through my dark hair and take a deep breath."Aubrey, there's something I need to tell you about what we found in the Ancient Heart." My voice comes out rougher than I intended.Her expression shifts, becoming more alert. She sits up straighter. "What about it?"I move closer to the bed, my boots echoing against the stone. "We discovered a white wolf and..." I pause, swallowing hard. "It was your mother, Aubrey."The color drains from her face i
AUBREYKnox and I exchange grave looks at Lina's words. Whatever she's just revealed has left us both unsettled, the implications heavy in the air between us."Do you know more?" Knox asks urgently. "Anything else that might help us understand what we're facing?"Lina shakes her head with visible regret. "Unfortunately, I don't. The visions I receive are fragments—glimpses of what's to come, not complete pictures. I wish I could offer you more guidance."Knox's frustration is palpable, his jaw clenching as he processes this limitation. But Lina's attention shifts to me, her ancient eyes growing sharp with concern."The most urgent matter now is breaking your blood oath," she declares, moving to examine me more closely. "The magical pressure has been building for—"I interrupt her with a gasp, my hand flying to my throat. The familiar tightness that's constricted my breathing for months, the invisible collar of Jax's control that's been a constant reminder of my bondage—it's gone. Comp
JAXThe blast of magic strikes my back like liquid fire, sending searing pain through every nerve in my body. I stagger forward, my vision blurring as I turn to face my attacker. Avery stands behind me, violet magic crackling around her fingers like purple lightning, her beautiful face twisted with murderous rage."You son of a bitch," she snarls, launching another magical strike in my direction.I lash out instinctively, my claws slashing toward her throat, but she dodges with inhuman grace. The magic that follows burns through the air where I'd been standing moments before, leaving scorch marks on the stone wall behind me."You're insane," I growl, barely avoiding her next attack. The force of the blast still clips my left arm, and I feel something tear—muscle, maybe bone. Blood runs warm down my sleeve."Insane?" Avery's laugh is sharp and bitter. "You used me, manipulated me, made me believe we were partners. And all along, you were planning to discard me the moment it became conv
AUBREYMy bare feet slip on wet leaves as I stumble through the forest, each step sending waves of agony through my broken body. Blood runs down my arms from deep gashes across my shoulders, soaking through my torn dress and leaving a crimson trail behind me. The metallic taste fills my mouth, where I've bitten my tongue to keep from screaming. I had to shift back to human form.Keep moving. Don't stop. They might still be following.My vision blurs as pain crashes over me in relentless waves. The silver blade wounds burn like liquid fire, refusing to heal at their normal rate. Every breath feels like swallowing glass, my ribs screaming in protest. But I force one foot in front of the other, driven by pure survival instinct.Branches tear at my already-shredded clothing as I push dee
AUBREYI drag myself to the nearest wall, my back hitting the cold stone as my legs give out beneath me. My heart pounds against my ribs, each beat sending fresh waves of pain through my battered body. Torn fabric lies scattered across the dungeon floor—what's left of my clothes after Jax's hands ripped them away.Tears fill my eyes as the reality crashes over me. What he almost did. What would have happened if that thunderous bang hadn't echoed through the castle, forcing him to leave and investigate. I silently thank whoever or whatever caused that noise—it saved me from something I wouldn't have survived intact.With trembling hands, I reach for the shredded remains of my shirt, trying to gather enough fabric to cover myself. My fingers shake as I—"Well, well. Look what
KNOXI spread the latest intelligence reports across the war room table, my hands steadier than they've been in days. The parchments detail possible Jax sightings—a manor abandoned in haste near the eastern border, witnesses reporting a man matching his description two kingdoms over, rumors of a mysterious benefactor funding mercenary groups along our southern territories.All leads. All potentially false. All I have."The scouts returned from the Blackwood region," Astor reports, his massive frame filling the doorway as he enters. Dark circles shadow his eyes—none of us have been sleeping properly since the attack. "No sign of him there either."I nod grimly, adding another red X to the map where we've eliminated possibilities. Three weeks of searching