Nyla’s POVThe roar of war shook the halls.As Killian and I ran along the stone hallway, we could hear Damon's guards' yells. Even though my heart was racing, I didn't want to slow down."We’re almost there!" As a warrior pounced at us, Killian slashed his blade through it and screamed out.I didn't think twice.I was stopped by a guard who swung a dagger at my chest. My intuition won out.Something inside of me snapped as I twisted and ducked.A surge of unadulterated strength sprang from my fingertips.With a painful snap, the guard slammed into the wall after flying backwards.I stared at my hands as I froze."What was that?" I took a breath.Killian took hold of my wrist. "There isn't time to solve it. "Move!"I took off running.They poured in from all sides, and the guards were everywhere. Killian killed anybody who stood in his way with deadly ease. However, there were too many.I felt the force within me coil like a tempest ready to explode, so I tightened my fists.A guard h
Nyla’s POVThe scent of aged wood and dust filled the chilly, deserted cabin. Outside, the wind howled, rattling the windows like some invisible entity attempting to enter.I put my arms around myself to control the rage that was consuming me. My mind kept racing even though my body hurt from the conflict.Sitting opposite me, Killian's face was unreadable. His jaw was covered in blood, and his shirt was ripped. Since we arrived, he had not spoken.I balled my fists up. I was at my breaking point.I said, "Tell me the truth, Killian," in a stern tone. "No more falsehoods. No more secrets. Why didn't you tell me about my past?He stiffened his shoulders, but he avoided eye contact with me.When he eventually said, "You wouldn’t have understood,"I laughed resentfully. "Try me."Killian let out a slow breath. He looked at the flickering candle between us while running a hand over his hair. "It wasn’t my secret to tell, Nyla.""That’s not good enough!" The flame jumped when I slammed my
Nyla’s POVMy head was reeling from everything Evelyn had just said as I looked at her."A prophecy?" My voice faltered. "You’re telling me my entire life has already been decided?"Evelyn had serene, yet sharp, silver eyes. "Undecided. anticipated."Anger was rising inside of me, so I crossed my arms. "That’s the same thing."She let out a sigh. "No, kid. It just indicates that the future has been hinted at, but you still have the final say.I balled my fists up. "And what exactly does this prophecy say?"Evelyn moved ahead slowly. "That during a great war, the last of the Crimson Bloodline will rise." she will be the driving factor behind the werewolf world's survival. Her voice grew solemn as she hesitated. "Or destroys it."My breath caught."Destroys it?" My voice was hardly audible.Evelyn gave a nod. "There is no power like the one you possess. It's unpredictable, raw, and ancient—unless you know how to use it. If you make the incorrect decision, everything will burn.I took a
Nyla’s POVThe night burnt with fire and blood.Hidden in the shadows on the rocky mountainside, I saw the war break out below. Their snarls reverberated through the darkness as wolves clashed. With their claws and teeth, warriors clashed, their fur crimson.Damon's army seemed limitless, but Silver Dawn men held the line against his renegades. Like a black torrent consuming everything in its path, more and more came flooding in.I balled my fists up.I ought to have experienced fear, rage, or loyalty. However, I only experienced nothingness.Down there, Killian was defending his flock. The same pack that had deceived me, concealed my might and rendered me feeble.There was also Damon down there. The creature who kidnapped me tormented me and attempted to shatter me.I ought to have taken a side. But I stood paralyzed, my heart warring with itself.Near the battlefield's edge, a Silver Dawn fighter collapsed, his breathing laboured. Jaws snapping, another rogue jumped on top of him—I
Nyla’s POVThere was silence on the battlefield. Like a storm about to erupt, my power crackled as it raced through the atmosphere. The wolves around me shifted uncomfortably, dread and wonder in their eyes. A few of them bent their heads in submission and knelt. Others paused, burying their paws into the bloody ground as they resisted the unknown.Then the silence was broken by a voice."I'm not going to bow to her."I turned to look into Logan's (Killian's Beta) icy, defiant eyes. He took a step forward, breathing deeply and angrily as his chest rose and fell. His posture was stiff, his muscles taut, prepared for combat.Damon scowled and stepped next to me, saying, "You will bow." "Or she'll crush you under her weight."With his look flitting to Killian, Logan spat out, "I follow an Alpha, not a monster." "Killian, tell me you see it. Tell me you won't just watch her take all we've worked so hard to build.When he said it, my gut knotted. A monster. Did they witness that? After all
Nyla’s POVAlthough Logan was quick, I was quicker. With its claws cutting through the air, his enormous wolf lunged. Just in time, I twisted my body to dodge. The force of his onslaught caused the ground under us to crumble."Stop, Logan!" Logan ignored the boom of Killian's words.He attacked me once more, his motions irregular, his look wild, almost unearthly. There was a problem. Logan was being controlled in addition to fighting.Heart racing, I ducked under his next blow. "This isn't you, Logan!"He bared his teeth and snarled. Blood was drawn from my arm as his claws brushed against it. I hardly noticed. I was too preoccupied with what I felt was behind the anger—something sinister, something alien.Killian slammed into Logan with raw fury, blocking his next move. "Beta, stand down!"Logan didn't stop, though. Like a puppet on unseen strings, he fought heedlessly.Stretching my senses beyond the physical struggle, I took a trembling breath. At that moment, I sensed a chilly, cr
Nyla’s POVThe chilly night air brushed over my skin as I sat by myself in the thick forest, knees drawn to my chest. Everything was bathed in a gentle silver radiance from the full moon overhead. I ought to have felt calm. But the only thing I could feel was the weight of fear.Not my phobia. Theirs.Logan, the pack, and even Killian had it in their eyes, and I could see it.They feared me.I balled my fists up. Was I turning into just what they were afraid of? I kept thinking about what Damon had said. A queen is nothing without her pack.I tried to block it all out by tightly closing my eyes. The conflict, my tantrum, and how Killian had to restrain me before I lost all self-control.Was I becoming someone else?Behind me, footsteps rustled. I didn't look around. I recognized the person already.Killian.At first, he remained silent. He just sat quietly next to me and observed the night. He was solid and friendly. The only thing in the jumble of my mind that felt real.I said, "You
Nyla’s POVThe smell of ancient parchment and dust filled the library. Books that hadn't been read in decades were stacked high on shelves.Killian and I were surrounded by large piles of books as we stood in front of a huge wooden table. There were lengthy shadows against the walls as the candlelight flickered.I flipped over another old book and said, "We have to find something." With the weight of the past bearing down on me, my hands shook a little. "The enemy my father warned me about is here now."Killian was standing next to me, running his fingers along book spines. "The werewolf king of old." His name was Valric.I looked at it. "Have you heard his name?"Killian gave a nod. He whispered it before he disappeared. The Eternal Valric.I shivered when I heard the name. Eternal. As though he had never really gone.I went back to the book and looked over the pages to see if there was anything we could use. I noticed a soiled piece of parchment nestled between the pages. I carefull
Nyla’s POVI stood frozen.The area where our child had vanished was blazing again—not soft like moonlight, nor raging like fire, but something else.Odd. strong. Ancient.Underwater, the air cracked and rippled like glass. Then a light exploded from the narrow gap between the sky and the earth. High above the altar ruins, it twisted into a perfect circle and spun like a whirlwind.One side of the circle was blazing with orange flames, while the other side was covered in icy black shadows.Half darkness, half fire, a beautiful ring.It floated in the sky, unmoving but humming with energy.Clinging to his arm, I said, "Killian." "See it?"“I see it,” he murmured. He tightened his jaw. That's him. That's our son.In the center of the circle, a shape appeared, tiny at first, then clearer and brighter.He had returned.However, it's not the same.His feet didn’t touch the ground. He hung between the elements, his arms held wide, golden hair swirling in a wind we couldn’t feel.His eyes we
Nyla’s POVAlthough the fire around us was modest, it was raging inside of me.With his body flickering dimly, my child lay motionless, torn between life and something else. Between this place and the shadowy location Auren had claimed. The liminal space.Killian was standing next to me, his fingers still shaking from the fight, his chest rising and falling. He was injured, although not externally.From within.From me.Because offering Killian's soul was the only way to save our child.I was ill.I moved away from the altar that we had constructed. My knees struck the floor. I cried and gripped my stomach."This is impossible," I said. "I can't let him go." Never again.Killian crouched next to me and dabbed at my tears."Nyla, you're not losing me," he uttered quietly.I gave a headshake. "You're not getting it. You'll fade if I carry out the rite. You will perish. Our kid will survive. But your voice will never be heard again. I will never again see your eyes. I won't make it throu
Nyla’s POVThe dream world was strange, chilly, and unsettling. It seemed like a world where time didn't exist, where shadows murmured, and where life and death coexisted. My heart was racing as I stood by myself, trying to find the one person I never imagined I would have to see again.Then I caught a glimpse of him from the darkness.Auren.His towering form entered the gloomy illumination. His eyes were sad and hollow, and his normally assured gait had wavered. He had a... new appearance. He appeared to have been through a lot.The sight of him made me freeze, my heart hurting. Like a tidal wave, the grief at his passing and everything we had lost swept through me."Auren?" With a cracked voice, I whispered.His expression was a mixture of regret and sadness as he looked at me. "Nyla..." His voice was softer and quieter than I remembered. "I understand your thoughts. However, you must pay attention. I've evolved.I stepped back and shook my head. "Modified? How? Auren, you're dead.
Nyla’s POVMy hands were shaking as I held the tiny light in my palm, as I stood at the edge of the holy altar. Hot and dazzling, the fire swirled with its own life as it danced. My infant daughter was lying in my arms. Her eyes were wide and brimming with a youthful, yet ancient, fire.I had the power to control the flame, a power that had been handed down through the years. It was hers now, though. And for her to have control over it as she matured, I had to attach it to her, make it a part of her. The item was risky, though.I started the ceremony, letting the words escape my mouth like wind-blown whispers."I bind the fire within thee by blood and flame, by heart and soul."As if trying to test my resolve, the fire's heat continued to rise. I pushed my fear aside and closed my eyes. It was necessary to accomplish this.There was a peculiar movement in the air around us as the youngster in my arms cooed sweetly. The flame seemed to be alive and able to sense what was about to happe
Nyla’s POVStone and fire were used to carve the hall.We passed tall crimson pillars. Beneath our boots, the floor burned dimly, carved with blazing runes and ancient symbols. I hugged my daughter. Quiet, she observed everything with eyes too perceptive for her age.Killian walked next to me, anxious and silent.Five individuals stood at the end of the hallway. They all had a separate crest over their hearts and were dressed in red, with their faces largely obscured. They did not bow. They stood still, like statues.A tall woman with silver braids and a voice like parched leaves walked forward.She said, "Queen Mother Nyla." "The Crimson Throne welcomes you."I said, "I'm not a queen." "My daughter is still a baby, too."Another elder said in a low voice, "She is the Flame reborn." "And now her reign begins."I gave a headshake. "She isn't even proficient in walking."The tall woman gave a small smile. She speaks in tongues that are older than our bones, nevertheless. The fire is awa
Nyla’s POVIt was a calm morning. Our little cottage's ripped drapes let in a little bit of sunlight. I rocked my daughter in my arms while I sat by the fire. My heart was soothed by her gentle breathing. The past few days had been difficult. sprinting. hiding. doubting everything.Nearby, Killian was honing his blade. Throughout the morning, he had been silent. His eyes were weary. Last night, he hadn't slept. I hadn't either.I kissed my baby's forehead and whispered, "I think she's finally falling asleep."Then it took place.Her eyes widened—too much. In her irises, a fiery crimson flame whirled like coals. Then..."Shadow and fire will kneel."She didn't have her voice. Not even a youngster owned it. Like thunder, it echoed. Deep. Imposing. Old.I nearly dropped her when I jumped.In an instant, Killian was standing with his sword partially drawn. "What was that?"I tightened my grip on my infant. "She—" she said. She said, Killian.Stunned, he looked at her. She's hardly one, th
Nyla’s POVBecome a part of the darkness. I looked at the woman in the doorway a long time ago.Although she had my grandmother's appearance, there was a difference.More powerful. Sharper and darker.Long shadows were produced on the floor as the firelight danced across her face.I said, "You… you died when I was little." How are you standing in this position?After entering the hut, she carefully shut the door. "I returned because of the flames. For the child, not for me.Killian kept his blade raised. "What would you like with our child?"She didn't blink her eyes. "I wish to keep it safe. As if I couldn't defend my.My heart hurt. "What do you mean?"She spoke softly as she sat down across from me. I was a member of the Crimson Line long before you were born. One who protects the First Flame. We pledged to preserve the harmony of light and shadow.Slowly, I nodded. "Mom told me stories, but she said that was the end of it."Her lips clenched. "I was the reason it ended."My chest
Nyla’s POVAs we stood in front of the Watchers' circle, I clutched my infant close.They loomed above us in their huge, shrouded bodies. They had a cold, steely gleam in their eyes.One took a step forward. The same person who had spoken to me in a whisper in heaven.The Watcher stated, "You have to give up the child." It needs to be taught. led. molded for the future.Killian moved ahead of me. "You believe we'll simply turn over our child?"The Watcher's tone remained steady. Both light and dark are present in this youngster. Void and fire. The balance it needs to acquire is beyond your comprehension."I am the mother," I asserted. "I know more than you realize."Another Watcher said, "Judgement is clouded by love." "Everything could be destroyed if the child is raised without discipline.""I don't give a damn!" I yelled. "You cannot take my child!"Sensing my worry, the infant stirred in my arms.The first Watcher said, "Slow down." "This isn't rage. It's fate. Additionally, it ha
Nyla’s POV"Your eyes… they changed, Killian," I said quietly quietly as I stood a short distance away. "Back there... You weren't yourself.He looked at his hand. Inside his skin, the fragment of relic continued to shine dimly."I know," he said in a whisper. "I had a feeling. Like a shadow... piercing me.""That wasn’t just the relic." I trembled when I spoke. "You have something inside of you. What have you failed to tell me?Killian took a while to respond. He breathed softly as he turned away from me."I never told you about my father," he continued.I blinked. "How about him?"Killian stated, "He wasn't from our realm." "The Void is where he came from."I let out a gasp. "The void? Do you mean the old dark realm? The one that was shut away by the ancient queens?He gave a nod. "My mom concealed the reality. She claimed that people would be afraid of me if they realized I was partially Void. or murder me.I moved in closer. "Why didn't you tell me earlier, Killian?"He explained,