تسجيل الدخولREIGN'S POVGarrick's voice cuts through the heavy air, even and cold. "I, Garrick Savage, former Alpha of the Grey Crest Pack, swear by the Moon Goddess and the ancient laws of our kind."He doesn't hesitate."That I will provide true and actionable information leading directly to Sonya Alba's rescue from Melvanie Darkmoor's captivity. That this information will be accurate, complete, and given without deception."A pause. The magic tightens around us like a noose."Should I provide false information or deliberately mislead, I accept death as the consequence."The words slam into place."This oath is sealed in blood, bound in magic, witnessed by the Moon Goddess herself. To break it is to invite death. So I swear."The magic flares again, sealing Garrick's portion of the oath. I feel it lock into place, the two halves becoming one unbreakable whole.Only then does Seer Elric release us.I pull my hand away immediately, wiping Garrick's blood off on my jeans like it's contaminating me
REIGN'S POV"You're lying." My voice cracks. "You're bluffing.""Am I? Think about it, Reign. Melvanie knows you'll come for Sonya. She's not stupid. She's been collecting for centuries precisely because she's smarter than everyone who's tried to stop her." My father checks his watch, the move casual and devastating. "So she'll move her prize acquisition somewhere even I don't know about. Somewhere so hidden, so protected, that even your mate bond won't help you find her."Through the bond, I feel Sonya's fear spike. Something's wrong.She's running out of time.We're running out of time."What's the guarantee you want?" The question drags out of me, flat and resigned. "Because you're not exactly trustworthy, and I'm not stupid enough to make a deal based on a handshake.""An unbreakable oath. Witnessed and bound by an elder of the Council of Ancients." He pulls out his phone again, already dialing. "I already have Seer Elric on standby. He's three minutes away."What? How the…Of cou
REIGN'S POVI find my father in an alley behind the auction house, smoke drifting from his cigarette like he's just having a casual fucking smoke break instead of manipulating his son into an impossible choice.The sight of him standing there, relaxed, like he hasn't destroyed lives and betrayed everyone who ever trusted him, makes my wolf snarl with rage."You came," he says, not bothering to turn around."You threatened to tell Melvanie my plans. Of course I came." I stay near the alley entrance, keeping distance between us, not trusting myself not to rip his throat out. "What do you want?""To make you an offer." He takes a long drag, the ember flaring bright in the dark, then turns to face me. His eyes scheming, cold. The eyes of a man who's been playing chess while everyone else was playing checkers. "I know where Melvanie's facility is located."My heart stops, then kicks into overdrive. "Bullshit.""It's not bullshit. I've been working with her for years, remember?" He drops th
SONYA'S POV"I made a few arrangements, Sonya. Hired some creatures in the Shadowlands to ensure any quests for magical blades end in failure. Or death. Whichever comes first." Melvanie cocks her head. "Did you really think I wouldn't have contingencies? That I'd just let you and your mate search for a way to break my contracts without interference?""You're a monster.""I'm practical." She turns away, walking back to her throne. "And now, Sonya, we need to discuss your punishment."The chains on my wrists flare bright purple, and pain explodes through me.It's unlike anything I've ever felt. Not just physical pain, though there's plenty of that. It's deeper. Like the magic is reaching into my very soul, tearing at the essence of who I am.I scream, my knees buckling."That's level one," Melvanie says conversationally, like she's sharing a fun fact. "The contract has ten levels of punishment built in. Each one progressively worse than the last. Right now, you're experiencing what happ
SONYA'S POVThe ride back to Melvanie's facility feels longer this time.Maybe because I know what's waiting for me. Punishment. Disappointment. The slow erosion of my will as the contract tightens its grip.I failed.I was supposed to get the amulet. Instead, I watched Reign and his father tear into a bidding war while Garrick finally walked away with it.The enforcer, whose name is Quinn, drives in silence, her eyes occasionally darting to the rearview mirror to check on me. She hasn't spoken since we left the auction house, but I can feel her watching, evaluating, reporting back to Melvanie through whatever magical connection they've got going on.Quinn's tattoo on her neck glows faintly purple every few minutes. Each time it does, her expression goes blank for a moment before returning to that carefully neutral mask.She's communicating with Melvanie right now. Telling her everything.My stomach churns with dread."She knows, doesn't she?" I finally ask, breaking the silence. "Mel
REIGN'S POVMy wolf snarls, itching to shift, to tear my father's throat out. But I force myself to stay still.How the hell did my father know?Garrick walks away before I can respond, the amulet now in his possession."What did he say?" Sonya presses."He wants to meet. Says he knows about my plans.""It's a trap.""Obviously." I turn to face her fully, taking in every detail. The shadows under her eyes. The way she holds herself like she's expecting an attack. The chains glowing faintly at her wrists. The faint bruises on her arms where someone gripped her too hard. "How bad is it?" I ask quietly. "With Melvanie?""It's..." She swallows hard, and I see her fighting back tears. "I'm okay. For now. But Reign, you need to leave Prague. If she finds out you're here, if she realizes we made contact...""Let her find out. I'm not leaving without you.""You don't have a choice. The contract won't let me leave, and if you try to force it, the kill spell activates." The tears spill over no
SONYA'S POVReign kisses me again, deeper this time, his hand sliding from my face to the back of my neck. His grip is possessive, dominant, and it makes heat pool between my thighs."Reign," I breathe against his lips."Do you want me to stop?" he murmurs, his other hand settling on my waist. "Tel
SONYA'S POVReign drives us to the edge of his property, down a dirt road I didn't know existed, until we reach a clearing with the most beautiful lake I've ever seen.The water is crystal clear, reflecting the morning sun like liquid glass. Trees surround it on all sides, creating a private sanctu
REIGN'S POVThe next morning, I find Sonya in the kitchen, making coffee and looking like she slept about as well as I did.Her red hair is piled on top of her head in a messy bun, and she's wearing those ridiculous pajama shorts that should be illegal. The tank top she has on is thin enough that
SONYA'S POVI stare at the ceiling in my room, my mind racing.Still unable to wrap my head around the fact that Derek has feelings for me.Derek. Has. Feelings. For. Me.Six years. Six years I've waited to hear those words, and now that I have, all I can think about is Reign.The way he looked at







