Mag-log inFaith felt the cold before she felt the sting. It was a freezing, hollow sensation that started in her shoulder and raced toward her heart like a wildfire made of ice. She looked down, her eyes widening as she saw the zigzag handle of the Void Blade sticking out from her skin. Black smoke began to curl off the wound, twisting like tiny, dark snakes.
“Faith!” Killian’s roar shook the very foundation of the Sunken Arena.He reached her just as her knees gave out. His large, scarred hanThe air in the training room turned freezing. Killian grabbed his shirt from the floor and threw it on, his eyes never leaving the figures in the snow. He didn't need to see their faces to know who they were.“The Silencers,” Leo whispered, his hand white as he gripped his pistol. “The King’s personal ghosts. They aren't shifters, Faith. They are humans who have been injected with so much dark energy that they don't feel pain. They don't have scents. That’s why the guards didn't see them.”Faith felt a chill that had nothing to do with the wind. The four figures stood perfectly still. They didn't breathe. They just watched.“Faith, get behind me,” Killian commanded. His voice was no longer the man who had kissed her: it was the Alpha who was ready to kill. Leo, get the internal shields up. If they get inside, we lose the height advantage.”“It’s too late for shields,” Faith said.She pointed toward the heavy oak doors of the estate. They didn't burst open. Instead, the wood simply beg
The training room in the North estate was nothing like the high-tech gyms in the city. It was a wide, circular hall made of dark stone and heavy timber. The air smelled of old wood and the faint scent of Killian’s cologne, that dangerous mix of pine and leather.Faith stood in the center of the room, wearing a simple black tank top and leggings. She felt small. Without her silver “Goddess” glow, she felt like she was back in the trenches, just a wolfless girl trying to survive. Her legs were still a bit shaky, but she kept her chin up. She wouldn't let him see her struggle.Killian walked into the room, and the temperature seemed to rise ten degrees. He wasn't wearing a shirt. His chest was a map of muscle and scars, reminders of the wars he had fought to become the Alpha of the Blackwood Pack.“The King’s men don't fight fair, Faith” Killian said, his voice echoing against the stone walls. They won't wait for you to find your magic. If they get close, you need to know how to break a
The journey back to the city was a nightmare for the lonely survivor. The Hunter’s body was broken, and his mind was even worse. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Killian’s gold eyes. He heard the sound of the mountain falling. By the time he reached the palace gates, he was barely holding onto the handlebars of the snowmobile.Inside the palace, the air reeked of medicine and anger. The King sat in a dark room, his face half-hidden by bandages. He looked at the Hunter lying on the floor in front of him. The man was covered in frostbite and dried blood.“Report,” the King hissed.They….they knew, the Hunter gasped, coughing up red onto the white marble floor. “It was a trap. The Catalyst wasn't there. It was a bait. Killian and the Prince….they buried the others under the mountain.”The King’s hand gripped the arm of his chair so hard the wood cracked. And the girl? Did you see her?No, the Hunter whispered, his head dropping. “But Killian had a message for you. He said the North
The mountain pass was a narrow, zigzag of black rock and white ice. It was the only way into the valley if you wanted to avoid the main roads. High above, hidden among the frozen pines, Killian and Leo watched through thermal goggles.“They’re late,” Killian whispered. His breath came out in a thick white cloud. He was holding a remote detonator in his gloved hand.“Hunters are patient,” Leo replied. He was crouched low, his sniper rifle resting on a flat stone. But they are very greedy. They think they’re hunting a broken girl and a billionaire who doesn't know how to fight in the snow. Don't worry, they’ll come.Ten minutes later, three dark shapes moved into the pass. They didn't walk like men, they moved like predators, low and fast. These were the King’s elite, the Shadow Hunters. They carried pulse rifles and wore armor that made them nearly invisible against the rocks.“Wait for the middle one,” Killian muttered.The hunters stopped in the center of the pass, right where the de
The North was silent, but it wasn't a peaceful silence. It was the kind of quiet that made you listen for every snapping twig. The kind of silence that makes you relieved but still has you on guard.Faith sat by the window in Killian’s room. She was wearing one of his large black sweaters. It smelled like him, She looked at her pale hands. The silver markings were faint, almost invisible now. She tried to spark a bit of lightning, but nothing happened. Her fingers just felt cold.The door creaked open. Killian walked in, carrying a tray with a bowl of hot soup and a glass of water. He had removed his suit jacket, and his white shirt was unbuttoned at the top. He looked tired, but when his gold eyes met hers, they softened instantly.“You know you should be in bed,” he said. It wasn't a scold, it was a plea.I’m tired of lying down, Killian, Faith said. Her voice was stronger today, but it still lacked the “Goddess” ring it had at the palace. I feel like a bird with no wings. Every tim
The transport moved fast, cutting through the dark night like a ghost. Inside, it was quiet. The only sound was the soft hum of the engine and Faith’s shallow breathing. She was wrapped in a thick, fur blanket, her head resting on Killian’s lap.Killian didn't look at the road. He didn't look at the stars. He only looked at Faith. His hand stayed on her shoulder, his thumb rubbing small circles against the fabric. He was checking her pulse every few minutes, terrified that she might stop breathing in her sleep.“She's stable, Killian,” Sarah whispered from the seat across from them. Her voice was tired. She had spent the last three hours cleaning Faith’s wounds and checking her temperature. Her body just needs to rest. Using that much power….it’s like a person trying to hold a lightning bolt with their bare hands. It burned her out.“But it’s gone,” Faith muttered. She wasn't asleep. She opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling of the transport. They were dull and dark again. No silver
“Faith, get behind me,” Killian growled. His voice was no longer human; it was a rough, deep rumble that vibrated through the floorboards. He didn't look at Sarah. He didn't look at the Council. His entire being was focused on the girl he had branded as his own.“I told you, Killian,” Sarah h
The silence in the marble foyer was suffocating. Faith felt as though the floor had turned into glass, ready to shatter at any moment. She looked at the weary woman in the trench coat to the frozen, pale Alpha at her side.“Mom?” Faith’s voice was a broken whisper. “They.…they said you disapp
The steel grate vibrated with the force of Killian’s snarl. Even in his massive wolf form, he looked less like an animal and more like a force of nature. His claws shredded the concrete floor, leaving deep gouges as he roamed the perimeter of the cage that separated them. “Killian, stop
Faith’s head throbbed as she blinked her eyes open. She wasn't at the South Gate, and she wasn't with Silas. She was in a high-tech bunker, her wrists bound not by zip-ties, but by heavy, pulsing magnetic cuffs that buzzed against her skin.“The little bird Awake at last,” a voice echoed.







